New domestic violence campaign stresses that teens are most likely to face abuse

April 9, 2013 - PRLog -- New domestic violence campaign stresses that teens are most likely to face abuse

A new domestic support website and campaign has been created specifically to support young people suffering abuse after research showed it to be a growing problem facing teenagers.

TalkAboutDV is running its new awareness campaign to coincide with the government updating its official definition of domestic violence to cover young people aged 16 and 17, as well as including patterns of behaviour that constitute coercive control.

The Inspire Hope – Be A Voice campaign hopes to raise awareness on the issues of domestic and emotional abuse happening to young people, as well as supporting victims and encouraging them not to suffer in silence.

It also aims to promote the concept of what love should be, by making clear what constitutes abuse as well as discrediting the often-cited cliché by abusers that they are being emotionally or physically abusive because they care.

The campaign, and the government’s move, comes as statistics show that 16-19 year old girls were the group most likely to suffer domestic abuse in the last year. This follows on from the British Crime Survey 2009/10, which showed that 12.7 per cent of women and 6.2 per cent of men aged 16-19 were likely to face abuse from a partner.

The campaign features posters emblazoned with slogans including Love respects and Love isn’t one-sided in a bid to get young people to think about abusive relationship signs, as well as where they can access domestic abuse support.

Ayo Olaniyan, the spokesperson for TalkAboutDV, believes young people shy away from the issues of domestic violence and emotionally abusive relationships and sometimes bow to peer pressure thinking it is love.

He said: “We hope this campaign will create more awareness on the domestic and emotional abuse as well as make young people speak up rather than suffer in silence.

“Clear information, anonymous counselling and a support network can be invaluable for young people living with domestic abuse, both emotional and physical. TalkAboutDV’s aim is to help them to find the strength they need to finally end the cycle of abuse.”

TalkAboutDV, which is owned and managed by Domestic Violence UK CIC, was launched earlier this month and hopes to provide young people with practical advice on how to find courage to deal with their situation, and move on from emotionally abusive relationships.

It recognises that domestic violence comes in many forms; not just the physical, but also emotional, psychological and sexual; and that it can be suffered by any member of society.

As well as the website (http://www.talkaboutdv.org) and running awareness-raising campaigns, TalkAboutDV also offers up to four free telephone counselling sessions with a professional to victims, as well as online and text directories, android app, relationship quizzes and blog articles around the issue.

Email support is available 24hrs and the organisation has a helpline for basic counselling support (not therapeutic) from 6.30pm until 8pm on Friday evenings although it is hoping to extend this availability.

Those wanting to support the organisation and campaign are asked to share the campaign posters on Twitter and Facebook (as well as following TalkAboutDV), download their android app, take part in the online quiz or make a donation. The organisation is also seeking volunteers to fundraise, please email info@talkaboutdv.org if you are interested in getting involved.