Volunteers hold up examples of buttons made by Alexandra Middle School students Thursday afternoon. The Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society is visiting schools all through February to educate teenagers about healthy relationships - Twitter @MHWomensShelter

By Charles Lefebvre

Women’s Shelter teaching teenagers about healthy relationships

Feb 6, 2020 | 5:31 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society is looking to educate teenagers in Medicine Hat on the importance of healthy relationships.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and representatives from the shelter have partnered with the Medicine Hat Public Library to hold information sessions at junior high and high schools in the region.

Students are able to make their own buttons with messages about consent and respectful relationships.

Kayla Rigby, success coach with Alexandra Middle School, says the school holds regular sessions on mental health, and says their presentation on healthy relationships has become one of the most popular presentations.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

14h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

14h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

22h ago

“It’s really important as they get older and into the teens and start to date and find their significant others,” she said. “So knowing what a good coping strategy is in a relationship, and what isn’t, is also really important.”

Peggy Revell, community education and awareness coordinator with the shelter, says it’s important to inform teenagers about what a healthy relationship looks like.

“We want to start good behaviour young,” she said. “We want to start talking about what is normal, what is healthy, what is unhealthy, what is abuse, and when you start dating, how should you be acting, how you should be treating another person with respect and your partner, and if things are going bad, where can you go to for help.”

Revell says healthy relationships include both partners respecting and supporting each other, and adds controlling behaviour, such as one partner isolating another partner from their friends, is a red flag of an abusive relationship.

The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society maintains a 24-hour telephone support line. If you need help, call 403-529-1091.