Here in the US, today marks the beginning of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (#TDVAM).
I want to highlight this, partly because it's an important issue which receives too little attention, but also because it's really difficult to be heard amongst the ongoing chaos and the necessary focus here on that chaos.
TDVAM began as an awareness week in 2006. It became an awareness month in 2010. The White House released an official proclamation every February -- except when Trump is in office. Trump refuses to acknowledge the month.
Although nearly half of all students are in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from University, over 80% of parents do not know TDV is a problem.
And although students in abusive relationships are more likely to leave school, to abuse drugs or alcohol, and to consider self-harm few schools address the issue.
The awareness month is the time of year when mainstream media is likely to report about TDV and its dangers. This media coverage increases awareness among parents and encourages schools to act.
When Trump refuses to acknowledge TDVAM, the media coverage disappears and then parents are less aware and schools don't participate. The consequence is that more teens are harmed; more are likely to experience abuse as adults.
And some teens do not make it to adulthood.
Sharing this information here is an opportunity to change this, to #prevent #violence now and in the future.