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Do you know what’s going on in your child’s dating life? If you answered no, you’re not alone. February is teen dating violence awareness month and The Shelter for Abused Women and Children, and a local teen, have been on a mission to encourage you to get involved, to ask questions, and to educate kids about healthy relationships. Gabriella Angy knows the struggles of being a teen. She’s a 16-year-old Collier County student. “We’re at an age where we are influenced by what we watch and what we see,” she said. She sees the influence on relationships from social media, celebrities, and tv shows, saying, “You start to have this new perception of love. And it messes up with your future relationships.” Angy said she’s worried for other teens and their relationships. The same goes for Gizelle Perez. “With all the different types of media outlets, we are constantly normalizing those unhealthy behaviors.” Perez is a prevention advocate with The Shelter for Abused Women and Children. She educates students across the county on relationships. “The unhealthy signs that you can see in a relationship include intensity, where relationships are moving way too fast,” Perez explained. For example, “saying, I love you, like when you’re two weeks into a relationship, you know, or even isolation.” According to the CDC, nearly one in 11 girls, and approximately one in 14 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year. A toxic relationship can also involve sexual violence or psychological aggression. Perez added, “They say, because I love you, this is why I do this. Or if you love me, you should do this for me too. And so now they’re thinking this is normal for a relationship, or they don’t know any better and may take that into their next relationship as well. So now they’re also repeating the cycle of abuse.” Gabriella warns if you think that your child is in a healthy relationship, “you should research with them and talk with them and try and understand what they’re going through.” Perez and Angy encourage partners, friends, and parents to speak up and ask questions so you can prevent and stop the cycle of violence. Resources for victims of domestic violence in Southwest Florida Many think of domestic violence as physical hitting with potential signs of bruising of a victim, but it can also include verbal, mental, financial, and other types of abuse. It can also impact people of all ages and of any sex. During the hour we’ll tell the stories of survivors, red flags to look out for in a relationship, and provide resources. Resources National Network to End Domestic Violence: Financial Abuse Consider applying for a micro-loan with NNEDV’s Independence Project to begin rebuilding your credit score. Domestic violence myths Domestic Violence Centers map Charlotte County Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies Phone: 941-639-5499 Hotline: 941-627-6000 SMS Text: 941-449-8534 TDD: 941-627-6000 Website: carefl.org Chat: resourceconnect.com Collier County The Shelter for Abused Women & Children Phone: 239-775-3862 Hotline: 239-775-1101 TDD: 239-775-4265 Website: naplesshelter.org DeSoto County Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center Phone: 941-365-0208 Hotline: 941-365-1976 TDD: 941-365-1976 Website: sparcc.net Glades County Abuse Counseling and Treatment Phone: 239-939-2553 Hotline: 239-939-3112 TDD: 239-939-3112 Website: actabuse.com Hendry County Abuse Counseling and Treatment Phone: 239-939-2553 Hotline: 239-939-3112 TDD: 239-939-3112 Website: actabuse.com Lee County Abuse Counseling and Treatment Phone: 239-939-2553 Hotline: 239-939-3112 TDD: 239-939-3112 Website: actabuse.com Below are mental health resources available to Southwest Floridians at the national and local levels. National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 suicidepreventionlifeline.org David Lawrence Center (Collier County) (239)455-8500 davidlawrencecenter.org SalusCare (Lee County) (239)275-4242 saluscareflorida.org National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County namicollier.org National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry Counties namilee.org The National Alliance for Caregiving offers a free handbook Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers Collier County Mental Health Court ca.cjis20.org/home/collier Lee County Mental Health Court ca.cjis20.org/home/lee Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance convio.net Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of America adaa.org U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help) hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/mental-health-parity Local veterans resource: Home Base SWFL https://homebase.org/home-base-southwest-florida/