If you are being abused in your relationship, there is help and hope. Violence will not “just stop” – the abuser has to make the choice to stop. If you feel safe enough to tell your boyfriend or girlfriend how you feel, let them know that their abusive behaviour needs to stop. Don’t accept excuses and don’t cover up for their abuse. Encourage him/her to get help, and reach out to your family, friends, or if you need to, a help resource for abused partners.1

If you don’t feel safe in your relationship, get out of it. You deserve the best for your life. Tell your family and friends that you are making the choice to leave, and let them help you and hold you accountable. If you feel that your safety is threatened, get in contact with a local shelter – they know how to deal with these issues.

You need to know that you are not to blame and that help is available. Violence among teen relationships is quite high – with statistics showing that 1 in 10 teens is affected by dating violence. That’s more common than many of us realize.

If you are caught up in violence in this way we encourage you to get in touch with us or reach out for help that is available in your community. Remember that you are important. Your life counts, and you can make a difference in this world. If you ever need to talk about this or anything else, feel free to get in touch with us. We’re here for you.