DATING VIOLENCE--WARNING
SIGNS,
HELP NUMBERS, & Helpful
Web Sites
Disclaimer: Online information
found here is made available so that individuals may find out whether
consultation with a counselor or doctor may be helpful. This is a help site and
is not intended to provide treatment, diagnosis, or consultation. This
information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
What are the dating violence
warning signs?*
Teenagers generally do not tell
people when they are involved in a violent relationship, so it is important for
adults to be alert for signs that a teen may be involved in a relationship that
is, or has the potential to become abusive. Some of the following signs are just
part of being a teenager. But, when these changes happen suddenly, or without an
explanation, there may be cause for concern.
--Does the individual have unexplained bruises, scratches, or
injuries?
--Do you see the signs that the individual is afraid of his/her boyfriend
or girlfriend?
--Does the boyfriend or girlfriend seem to try to control the
individual’s behavior, making all of the decisions, checking up on his/her
behavior, demanding to know who the individual has been with, and acting jealous
and possessive?
--Does the boyfriend or girlfriend lash out, criticize, or insult the
individual?
--Does the individual apologize for the boyfriend or girlfriend’s
behavior to you and others? Has the individual casually mentioned the boyfriend
or girlfriend’s temper or violent behavior, but then laughed it off as a joke?
--Have you seen the
boyfriend/girlfriend abusive toward other people or
things?
--Does the individual seem to have lost interest or to be giving up
things that were once important? Has he/she lost interest in school or other
activities?
--Has the individual’s appearance or behavior changed
suddenly?
--Has the individual stopped spending time with friends and
family?
--Have you seen sudden changes in the individual’s mood or personality?
Is the individual becoming anxious
or depressed, acting out, or being secretive? Is the individual avoiding eye
contact, having ‘crying jags’ or getting ‘hysterical’?
--Has the individual recently started using alcohol or
drugs?
*”Teen Dating Violence”; http://www.safeyouth.org/
HELP
NUMBERS
For
help or more information contact any of the following individuals, groups, or
agencies:
--Guidance Counselors—
| High School | Katie Fistler | 421-4426 (Mason City Alternative School) | |
| Dave Jacobson | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Dusty Rhodes | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Karla Wymore | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Middle School | Sara Bucknam | 421-4423 (Roosevelt Middle School) | |
| Gina Friederich | 421-4420 (John Adams Middle Schoo) | ||
| Elementary | Sarah Despenas | 421-4406 (Harding) or 421-4411 (Jefferson) |
|
| Kay Erland | 421-4408 (Hoover) or 421-4415 (Roosevelt) |
--Family physician or local/area clinic
--Family services, social
agencies, or clergy
--Check the phone book under
“mental health”, “health”, “social services”, “hotlines” or “physicians” for
phone numbers and addresses.
An
emergency room doctor also can provide temporary help and can tell you where and
how to get further help.
FOR
AFTER HOURS HELP CALL:
24
Hours Daily—Confidential--Free
National Suicide
Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Teen Help Line:
1-800-443-8336
Teen Help Line is not a crisis
or “hotline”. The line provides health information & referral services for
Iowa teens.
If
you are thinking of harming yourself or know someone who is, tell someone who
can help immediately.
--Call your doctor.
--Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.
--Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline number for the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
--Make sure you or the suicidal person is not left alone.
CRISIS HELPLINES
National Domestic Violence
Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
A hotline for
victims of domestic and family violence at home, and concerned family and
friends.
National Sexual Assault
Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673)
This hotline connects
sexual assault victims to local rape crisis centers.
Helpful Links with More
Information
American Psychiatric Association
(APA)
www.healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-DomesticViolence.pdf
Dating
Violence, Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Center for Victims of
Crime
www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=37939
Women’s
Coalition of St. Croix
The
Safe Space
www.thesafespace.org/the-basics.html
Love is
Not Abuse
www.loveisnotabuse.com/teen_10warningsigns.htm
National Youth Violence
Prevention Resource Center
www.safeyouth.org/scripts/topics/dateviolence.asp