From press release:

In Virginia, 12.1% of high school students have been hit, slapped or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend during the past 12 months (10.7% male and 13.4% female). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reports “1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 7 men who ever experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of intimate partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.” Beside physical injury, teen dating violence can lead to adverse health outcomes and increase unhealthy behaviors.

Visit the Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month website to learn what youth and concerned adults can do to address this issue – http://www.teendvmonth.org/

The Virginia Department of Health’s Teen Dating Violence Prevention program provides information, training, and resources on dating violence prevention to professionals working with youth, teens, and college students.

Click here for a list of available national resources on Teen Dating Violence.