1. Safe Dates Session 4
How to help Friends

2. Respect each others opinions
Classroom Rules
Respect each others opinions
Listen to each other ( No talking while someone else is speaking)
No Names
1 person is talking at time
No Laughing

3. Learner Outcomes
Recognize the complexity of the decision to leave an abusive relationship and the many different opinions about when one should leave
Recognize the difficulty and fear that a friend in an abusive relationship may have in reaching out for help
Describe a variety of ways to support a friend who is a victim of dating abuse
Describe the community resources available for teens in abusive relationships
Seek help if they’re victims or perpetrators of abuse in a dating relationship

4. Why people don’t just leave
People often turn to friends for help in these situations
To be supportive, you need to understand how complex these relationships can be and how difficult it can be to reach out for help

5. Jose’s Story
Stay
Leave

6. Questions
Those of you on the “stay” side at the end of the story, why would you want to stay?
Those of you on the “leave” side at the end of the story, why would you want to leave?

7. Why is it hard to get help
Why do you think it might be difficult to tell someone about abuse or violence in a dating relationship ?
Barriers to getting help :
Fear of hurting their dating partners feelings
Fear that the fiend who they confide in will tell them to end the relationship
Fear of losing independence from one’s parents
Fear of getting in trouble with one’s parents
Fear that people will not understand, will blame, or won’t believe what happened
Not knowing how or where to get help
Fear of retaliation from the abusive dating partner

8. Tell them they don’t deserve it
How to help a friend
Don’t Gossip
Believe the story
Tell them they don’t deserve it
Make a Safety plan
Give Help
Let the victim make their own decisions

9. They can help the person consider their options
Community Resources
Connect them with professionals who know how to help teens in abusive relationships
They can help the person consider their options
They can help the victim develop a safety plan