Teens need vital lessons on abuse
WHEN I was 17 I had a relationship which changed my outlook on what I wanted and expected from a partner.
My partner at that time used coercive and controlling behaviour to manipulate and abuse me.
It remains one of the worst times of my life and it is something that has shaped the woman I am today.
Growing up I thought I knew the red flags but, it turns out, abuse is complex and it can be hard to recognise, and even harder to accept when it is happening to you. Most people think of domestic abuse is about physical pain but it is much wider than that.
It can be manifest in coercive control, which, although it became a crime in 2015, is not widely understood.
Many won’t know what it is until they experience it, which can be an isolating experience.
I want to make sure young people know the signs of coercive control, how to spot it and how to get help.
That’s why I’m so proud to be teaming up with Refuge, and urging the Government to make learning about domestic abuse and coercive control mandatory for 16-19 year olds.
I started my campaign two months ago and since then more than 60,000 people have signed my petition, offering support. But will the Government listen?
If I’d had such education at school, I feel as though I could have avoided the situation I found myself in – or at the very least got out sooner.
Instead, my confidence was destroyed, my self-worth plummeted, my academic achievements were at risk and my mental health suffered.
I don’t want any other young person to feel like this.
That is why I am asking Education Secretary Kit Malthouse to support our campaign to make learning about domestic abuse mandatory for 16-19 year olds.
Lessons about this are already compulsory for years 7-11 but I want that learning to continue, so that when people are likely starting their first relationships they are equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves.
By signing my petition you can help put pressure on the Government to listen. You could make a difference for all young people.