Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is something that doesn’t get spoken about much in Western Australia, yet if the statistics from other countries are anything to go by, there is a large problem that exists under the silence.

In Canada, one in three young people experience dating violence . In the United States 1.5 million high school students report being intentionally hit or harmed by a person they are romantically involved with.

It is well known the festive season is a time when there is a spike in the reported cases of DV. People are spending more time together, family tensions, alcohol and financial pressures often create an environment when DV occurs. The similar pressures can occur for young people:
• Increased time together.
• Tensions from the wider family can spill into the young person’s relationship.
• Increased alcohol and/or drug use leading to increased violence and/or control within the dating relationship.

Why is it a problem?

At a basic level adolescent dating violence violates a young person’s right to safe and healthy development.
Young people who experience dating violence are more likely to long term consequences such as alcohol dependency, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts . (50% of young people who experience rape or sexual & physical abuse will attempt suicide) .
In the Canadian study, 18% of young people had a dating partner use social media to hurt, embarrass or monitor them .
Dating violence is also a strong risk factor for domestic violence in adulthood .
Dating violence also disproportionally affects young people who are already marginalised, for example young people who are living in poverty or homeless and young people who are trans and non-binary.