--- title: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month description: February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Learn about recognizing signs, promoting healthy relationships, and supporting teens in need. image: https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/hubfs/Brittany%20Burns%20D.O_.jpg --- [![](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-blue-red.png?width=558&height=146&name=logo-blue-red.png)](https://www.lonestarfamily.org) - Services - [Family Medicine](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/family-medicine/) - [OB-GYN](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/ob-gyn/) - [Dental](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/dental-care/) - [Behavioral Health](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/behavioral-health/) - Patient Resources - [Community Resource Guide](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/community-resource-guide/) - [Good Faith Estimate](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/good-faith-estimate/) - [Insurance Information](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/insurance-information/) - [Medical Records](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/medical-records/) - [New Patients](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/new-patient-resources/) - [Patient Portal](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/patient-portal) - [Sliding Fee Discount Program](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/sliding-fee/) - Who We Are - [About Us](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/who-we-are/about-us/) - [Careers](https://j.brt.mv/ax.do?refresh=true&portalGK=12151) - [Clinical Team / Providers](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/providers/) - [Leadership Team](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/leadership-team/) - [News & Events](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/news-events/) - [Notice of Privacy Practices](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/notice-of-privacy-practices/) - [Locations](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/locations/) - Services - [Family Medicine](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/family-medicine/) - [OB-GYN](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/ob-gyn/) - [Dental](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/dental-care/) - [Behavioral Health](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/behavioral-health/) - Patient Resources - [Community Resource Guide](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/community-resource-guide/) - [Good Faith Estimate](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/good-faith-estimate/) - [Insurance Information](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/insurance-information/) - [Medical Records](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/medical-records/) - [New Patients](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/new-patient-resources/) - [Patient Portal](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/patient-portal) - [Sliding Fee Discount Program](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/sliding-fee/) - Who We Are - [About Us](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/who-we-are/about-us/) - [Careers](https://j.brt.mv/ax.do?refresh=true&portalGK=12151) - [Clinical Team / Providers](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/providers/) - [Leadership Team](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/leadership-team/) - [News & Events](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/news-events/) - [Notice of Privacy Practices](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/notice-of-privacy-practices/) - [Locations](https://www.lonestarfamily.org/locations/) [Book a Demo](https://www.google.com/) --- 3 min read [Dating Violence](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/tag/dating-violence) --- # Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month 11 Feb, 2026 ![Headshot of Dr. Brittany Burns](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Brittany%20Burns%20D.O_.jpg?width=900&name=Brittany%20Burns%20D.O_.jpg) SHARE - - - [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month&body=Check%20out%20https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month&media=https://7515320.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7515320/Brittany%20Burns%20D.O_.jpg](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month&body=Check%20out%20https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month&media=https://7515320.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7515320/Brittany%20Burns%20D.O_.jpg) - - February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and it’s a reminder of a conversation we need to keep having. A conversation to have not just once a year, but consistently, openly, and without judgment. Teen dating violence is more common than many people realize, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect. Teen dating violence includes physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and digital abuse within a dating relationship. It can involve: - Constant monitoring or controlling behavior - Insults, humiliation, or threats - Pressure around sex or sharing images - Isolation from friends or family - Physical harm or intimidation - Excessive texting, tracking, or social media control Many teens don’t label these behaviors as “abuse.” They may describe them as jealousy, love, protectiveness, or “just how relationships are.” But these patterns can have real and lasting effects. Teen dating violence is not just a relationship issue, it’s a health issue. Research shows that teens experiencing dating violence are at higher risk for depression and anxiety, substance use, eating disorders, poor academic performance, unplanned pregnancy, STIs, and long-term patterns of unhealthy relationships. As symptoms this might show up as headaches, stomach pain, trouble sleeping, frequent visits, or sudden changes in mood or behavior. Sometimes the connection isn’t obvious at first. That’s why awareness matters. Healthy relationships should make you feel safe, respected, and supported; relationships should not make you scared, feel controlled, or small. Teens need to know that love is not supposed to hurt. Jealousy is not the same as care. “No” is a complete sentence. Respect is a two-way street, and everyone is deserving of it. They also need reassurance that if something feels wrong, it’s worth talking about, even if they’re not sure how to describe it. Parents and caregivers often ask me how to protect their teens without pushing them away. Talk about early relationships and often focus on safety and support, not punishment. If a teen fears losing their phone, their freedom, or your trust, they may stay silent even when they need help the most. You don’t have to have all the answers. Saying, “I’m really glad you told me,”Can make all the difference. Family medicine providers are in a unique position. We often have long-standing relationships with teens and their families, and we can provide a confidential, safe space to talk. During visits, we can screen for dating violence. Normalize conversations about relationships with a judgement free zone. Provide resources for your teen patients. Offer your support without pressure. Sometimes the most powerful thing we do is listen and remind a teen that they are not alone. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is about giving teens the language, tools, and support they need to build healthy relationships now and in the future. As a family medicine provider, I believe prevention starts with conversation. Honest conversations rooted in respect and compassion. Check out these resources if you need to know where to start: - National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (Love is Respect) – 24/7 help for teens and young adults. Call 1-866-331-9474, TTY 1-866-331-8453, text “LOVEIS” to 22522, or chat online at loveisrespect.org. Support is confidential and free. - National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat live at thehotline.org for domestic and dating violence support and safety planning. - Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained counselor via text message for emotional support. - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for crisis support, including emotional distress. - Teen Line – Peer-to-peer support for teens. Call 800-852-8336 or text “TEEN” to 839863 (evening hours). - Love is Respect – Offers quizzes to assess relationship health, warning signs, safety planning tools, and live chat support for teens and parents. loveisrespect.org - Stop Teen Dating Violence (#stopTDV) – Free educational materials, activities, and awareness info for schools and youth groups. stoptdv.com - Youth.gov – Teen Dating Violence Resources – Curated links and guidance for teens, families, educators, and providers. youth.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence/resources - National Parent Helpline – Support for caregivers learning to talk about relationships and dating safety: 1-855-427-2736. - JCADA Teen Corner (Spanish & English) – Teen-focused content on healthy relationships, boundaries, and safety. es.jcada.org/teen-corner Dr. Brittany Burns is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community. ## Related Articles [![Headshot of Joanna Moore, M.D.](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Joanna%20Moore%20M.D_.jpg?width=500&name=Joanna%20Moore%20M.D_.jpg)](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/understanding-anxiety-in-children-and-teens-1) [Mental Health](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/tag/mental-health) --- ### [Understanding Anxiety in Children and Teens](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/understanding-anxiety-in-children-and-teens-1) Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear, or nervousness. 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[Read more](https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/understanding-anxiety-in-children-and-teens) © 2026 Lone Star Family Health Center All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lone Star Family Health Communications", "url" : "https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/author/lone-star-family-health-communications" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-11T13:00:00.102Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-11T13:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month", "image" : [ "https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/hubfs/Brittany%20Burns%20D.O_.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/teen-dating-violence-awareness-month", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.lonestarfamily.org/hubfs/logo-blue-red.png" }, "name" : "Lone Star Family Health Center" } } ```