High school students work to raise awareness about dating violence

High school students work to raise awareness about dating violence

(Utah Department of Health)


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SALT LAKE CITY — The teenage years are a time meant for experiencing many new and exciting things. It is a time where many firsts take place: your first job, first car, and of course your first love.

We’ve all been there. Eyes meet, then hands, often followed by yet another first: your first kiss. It is a magical time, or at least it’s supposed to be.

While many teens escape the dating scene unscathed, aside from perhaps a minor broken heart that can be quickly repaired by watching a good chick flick with your sisters or a love pat from your old man — others are not so fortunate.

According to recent statistics, one in four high school students are involved in a violent dating relationship, and the numbers seem to be rising.

Utah Teen Dating Scene Media Contest Flyer. (Photo: Utah Department of Health)
Utah Teen Dating Scene Media Contest Flyer. (Photo: Utah Department of Health)

Schools across Utah are taking a stand against dating violence during the month of February, which has been designated as Dating Violence Awareness Month. And with the help of the Utah Department of Health, students are taking their messages to social media, creating art representing the hurt caused by violent relationships and having pep rallies and school-wide awareness weeks.

In 2013, Murray High School’s Peer Leadership Team (PLT), dedicated a week to bringing awareness to this difficult topic. The students began by handing out ice cream to “break the ice,” hoping to start the conversation about dating violence. The peer group then cut out and pasted 1,449 hearts representing the student body and MHS, with one-fourth of the hearts being purple (the color representing violence), showing that one in four students are involved in a violent dating relationship. They documented their efforts in a YouTube video.

This month, there are a number of schools across the state having their own events to bring about awareness of dating violence. One such event is taking place on Feb. 5 in Cedar City.

Spearheaded by Cedar City’s Canyon Creek Crisis Center manager Bailey DeRoest and Cedar High School student body president Jace Einfeldt, Cedar High School and Canyon View High School will be hosting the first annual Dating Violence/Healthy Relationships Awareness Basketball Game. CHS will be playing Hurricane and CVHS will play Pine View.

To bring awareness, players will be wearing purple socks, and there will be a half-time event with a short introduction explaining the motivation for the event and why it is important to develop and nurture healthy relationships now.


As a community we need to teach our young people how to respect one another, talk through problems and manage their anger in a healthy manner. If we did that, we could end violence.

–Katie McMinn, Utah Health Dept.


“I wanted to have a captive high school audience,” Einfeldt said. “I thought this would be the best way to bring about awareness, and we hope to make this an annual event.

The Utah health department's violence against women prevention specialist Katie McMinn wants all students to get involved.

"As a community we need to teach our young people how to respect one another, talk through problems and manage their anger in a healthy manner. If we did that, we could end violence — whether it’s domestic violence, bullying, child abuse or dating violence.”

The health department is running many awareness events throughout the month, asking for students to show by way of visual or written works, what it means to step up to healthy relationships. Information can be found on the Department of Health website and its Facebook page.

If your school wants to get involved or for more information on the signs and prevention of dating violence, go to health.utah.gov/vipp.


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About the Author: Arianne Brown -------------------------------

Arianne Brown is a mother of six who loves running the beautiful trails around Utah. For more articles by Arianne, "like" her Facebook page, follow her on Twitter @arimom5, or visit her blog, timetofititin.com. If you have a story to share, contact her at ariannebrown1@gmail.com.

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