This article is part of a project of the local Community Health Improvement Council (CHIC).  Health Councils were created statewide in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) with the goal of getting local citizens and county governments more involved in the manner in which health might be improved in each of their communities.  The local CHIC is conducting an ongoing awareness campaign addressing the various areas that can potentially affect a person’s health.  February has been devoted to bringing awareness to our local Domestic Violence Program, Family Crisis Center.

 

When Push comes to shove, it’s not love. Are you dating someone who is jealous and possessive, wants to pick your friends, checks up on you, won't accept breaking up, or accuses you of cheating? Who wants to get too serious about the relationship before you are ready? Who pressures you for intimacy? Who tries to control you, is very bossy and gives orders, makes all the decisions, doesn’t take your opinions seriously? Who puts you down in front of family and friends, tells you that you would be nothing without them? Makes you worry about their reaction to things you say or do? Who makes your family and friends uneasy and concerned for your safety? Who uses guilt trips or threatens to hurt themselves if you leave? This month was devoted to Family Crisis Center because February is Teen Dating Abuse Awareness month. All of these signs above are indicators that you could be in an unhealthy relationship.

 

Some of the different categories of abuse include; peer pressure, minimizing, denying, blaming, emotional abuse, isolation, exclusion, intimidation, stalking, cyber bullying/stalking and technology abuse, threatening, sexual coercion and financial abuse (this could be harassing a boyfriend/girlfriend at work).

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• 1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner.

• 1 in 3 girls say they have been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner.

• 1 in in 4 teens say their partner has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family.

• 1 in 3 girls between the ages of 16 and 18 say sex is expected for people their age if they are in a relationship; half of teen girls who have experienced sexual pressure report they are afraid their relationship would end if they did not give it up.

• Girls and young women between 16 and 24 have the highest rate of intimate partner violence.

• On average, adult abusers establish patterns of abuse in dating relationships by the age of 15.

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Children and teenagers are often the hidden victims of domestic abuse. Our services are designed to help them too! Even if you are in a healthy relationship, chances are you know someone who could benefit from our services. If you have questions you can call (505) 325-3549, visit www.familycrisiscenternm.org or http://www.loveisrespect.org/resources/teendvmonth/.

There is also an anonymous text line if you have any questions “loveis to 22522.”

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