This year's annual Break The Silence - Step in My Shoes 2021 Virtual Walk will be raising funds in support of Yellow Brick House's life-saving support services and prevention programs for women and children impacted by violence and abuse. Throughout September and October, join us by registering and create your own 2.5 kilometer course to ride, walk, roll, run or jog.
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Send us photos and videos of your participation to be included in our Virtual Celebration on Sunday, November 7, 2021! Every team should submit 3 - 5 photos and one 30 second video to [email protected].
Help us reach our fundraising goal of $68,000. Every $150 raised will provide a night of safety for a women or child impacted by violence and abuse.
Thank you for joining the movement to end violence against women and children!
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With the return to an in-person school year on the horizon, it is important for teens, young adults and parents to know and identify the signs of dating violence to prevent or reduce the prevalence of dating violence and abusive relationships.
For many teens and young adults, the world of dating and relationships is a tricky one to navigate. Not only do they have to filter through new emotions and social pressures, but they also have to stay physically and emotionally safe.
Yellow Brick House offers teen dating violence education sessions in schools across York Region. Public Education Coordinators at Yellow Brick House share key information on the warning signs of an abusive or violent relationship and how to prevent, reduce or exit them safely.
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Create a Safe Environment |
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Having conversations with the teens and young adults in your life around healthy relationships can help them differentiate a healthy relationship from an unhealthy one. Being open and honest with them will also make them feel like they can ask questions without judgment or consequence, and come to you if they feel unsafe with their partner.
Help them explore the world of dating and relationships safely, allowing them to grow into adults who understand the ways unhealthy and abusive relationships can play out in our daily lives. It is also important to help them understand the cycles of abuse, and know how to protect themselves from harmful relationships.
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Teach your teen to trust their gut. If a relationship or situation does not feel right or safe, it is likely because it is not. Listen to the young adults in your life if they tell you about red flags, and look out for external signs the relationship may be unsafe or unhealthy.
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It is important to set boundaries in any relationship, but particularly for young adults. Before entering a relationship, learn to establish deal breakers. If the young adults in your life enter a relationship, equip them with the skills to effectively and confidently communicate their boundaries with their partners. These are things one would absolutely not tolerate in a relationship; they could be big or small, and can come in many forms.
If a deal breaker or boundary is broken, learn how to seek help and advice and identify ways to safely leave that relationship. Individuals dealing with an abusive or violent relationship may experience barriers to accessing help. These barriers may include fear, stigma and a lack of available resources. As an adult playing a role in the life of a teen or young adult, it is essential to create a non-judgmental, safe space for discussing relationships to help combat some of these barriers. As a parent or guardian, it is key to reiterate to the teen or young adult in your life facing abusive relationships and hardships that the situation is NOT their fault.
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If you or your teen or the young adult in your life identifies that a relationship is unhealthy, come up with a safety plan to exit the relationship. Encourage them to reach out to a trusted adult, guardian, or professional for safety planning and to implement the plan. Have your teen or young adult let a trusted adult know where they are going to meet their partner, and ensure they have safe websites and phone numbers saved in their phone or written down.
Consider preparing a safety plan with a counsellor through Yellow Brick Houses’ 24/7 crisis and support line: 1.800.263.3247. You may also share tips, such as never sharing online passwords, and creating safe spaces with friends and trusted adults.
Please refer to The Healthy Relationship Guide for some tips when creating a safety plan. Let your teen or young adult know to separate their finances from their partner, identify trusted individuals to call or ask for help if they feel unsafe, and ensure they have the documents and items needed to leave the relationship if they are living with their partner.
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“Every person deserves to have healthy relationships that are free from abuse and violence,” said Marisa Mei, YBH Public Education Coordinator.
Navigating the world of relationships is a normal and healthy thing to do. But, when faced with a toxic or violent relationship, it is best to have resources and tools to keep yourself, your teen or the young adults in your life safe.
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Crisis & Support Line: 1-800-263-3247 |
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