Dating violence among teens and young adults is very common, according to experts. One in three teens in the United States is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, statistics show. Among girls and young women, the rate of intimate partner violence is almost triple the national average for all age groups and genders. Yet the problem is often overlooked and many young people experiencing this type of abuse don’t know where to turn, advocates said.
In California, a new bill signed into law last month by Gov. Gavin Newsom could help change that. Starting in January, the law will require all ID badges for students in seventh through 12th grades and in higher education institutions to carry the National Domestic Violence Hotline number, or that of a local domestic violence hotline. Students can call the number, 1-800-799-7233, to receive confidential support and be connected with resources in their area. The hotline also has an online chat option.
“I feel like it’s important to address teen dating violence because it’s an ongoing cycle,” she said, referencing research that shows that children who grow up witnessing abuse in their homes are more likely to experience abuse as an adult or become abusers themselves. “We need to break the cycle. … That’s what motivates me: change.”
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