February was recently designated as the month to nationally raise awareness of teen dating violence. Across the U.S., a lot of people and organizations are speaking about the issue to help teens stay safe. Sadly, in this time of increased attention one young girl lost her life to this devastating problem.
Rebecca Layson, just 17-years-old, was spending time with her friends on Thursday, February 11th. But she never came home. She was found dead the next day at a nearby park. The police arrested her boyfriend and his friend for the murder.
This terrible tragedy, and the many youth who report being victims of abuse, remind us how much work we have ahead of us to end and prevent dating violence. And it’s something we can all do together.
Whether it’s raising awareness at your school about dating violence, telling a friend how to recognize the warning signs, encouraging someone to get help for their abusive behavior or writing a letter to state legislators to increase the protections of youth and adding dating violence awareness to the school curriculum, there is something you can do. There is something we can all do.
Start now. Find out more information about dating abuse, ways to get involved and how you can reach out to others who need help.
If you're in immediate crisis, call 911 or the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1.866.331.9474 or chat now: