How Health Care Practitioners Can Help Prevent Teen Dating Violence
Health care professionals can play a crucial role in the prevention of youth dating violence. They can begin by talking with young patients about how to demonstrate caring, show respect, and resolve conflicts nonviolently. They can also provide patients with information on how to prevent dating violence or respond if violence occurs. This information can be provided through discussions with patients, in posters or brochures in a waiting room, or through articles in newsletters. Health care professionals can also do presentations throughout the community to educate groups of youth, parents, educators, and youth workers about the problem of youth dating violence. They can initiate or participate in the development of community-wide or school-based dating violence prevention programs. [1]
Health care professionals also have a responsibility to identify those who have experienced dating violence and to offer assistance. Medical and mental health professionals should routinely screen adolescents for dating violence and be aware of appropriate referral sources. [2]