Care and support

Teen dating violence

Abuse can happen in a teenage relationship. There are warning signs you should look for in your boy/girlfriend's behaviour. Does he/she:

• Make you feel guilty all the time.
• Put you down or shout at you.
• Slap, push, hit, or kick you, or threaten to do so.
• Force you to have sex when you say no or won't use protection during sex.
• Force you to do things you are not comfortable doing.
• Use drugs or alcohol and force you to do the same.
• Refuse to accept it if you break up with them, then harass or stalk you.
• Call you hurtful names or say degrading things, either alone or in front of others.
• Take or control your money.
• Get possessive or jealous of you or your friends and family.
• Insist you don't go places without them.
• Tell you how sorry they are for hurting you, promise it won't happen again, but then repeat their hurtful behaviour.

This cycle of abuse won't stop until you have the courage to speak up and say "No More!"