For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center asks our community to share in honoring National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month this February.  Teen sexual dating violence affects millions of teens in the United States each year.  In fact, 26 percent of women and 15 percent of men experience intimate partner violence for the first time before age 18.

On the Mid-Shore, more than one in 13 teens report experiencing sexual dating violence, according to the Center for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Mid-Shore teens also experience physical dating violence at a rate that is 21 percent higher than the overall Maryland reports. (Data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Teen sexual dating violence is surprisingly common, with more than half of adolescent sexual violence occurring in the context of a dating or intimate relationship.

Sexual dating violence occurs when a dating partner forces or attempts to force a partner to participate in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent. (cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/tdv-factsheet.pdf) Often, sexual dating violence amongst teens goes hand in hand with dating violence. In these cases, teen abusers may use sexual violence as a tactic to get or keep power and control over their dating partner.

“It is vital that Mid-Shore teens have permission to call sexual dating violence what it is: a crime,” shares Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons. “Sexual violence is always illegal, regardless of who perpetrates it or what your relationship you have with your abuser.”

Unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships can have short and long-term adverse effects on a developing teen. For instance, teens who are victims of sexual dating violence experience higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms and are more likely to seriously consider suicide. Additionally, these teens more frequently engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. (Data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Sexually abusive and violent behaviors can take place both in-person and electronically. Virtual sexual dating violence could include a dating partner posting sexual pictures of a partner online without their consent. It also includes a phenomenon known as ‘sextortion,’ when a dating partner threatens to expose sexual images as coercion for additional photos, sexual favors, or other things of value.

Research asserts that efforts to support the development of healthy, respectful, and nonviolent relationships can reduce the occurrence of sexual dating violence. Programs that engage young people in learning critical skills — such as managing feelings, using healthy communication, and defining and maintaining personal boundaries — can be particularly effective at preventing sexual dating violence. (cdc.gov/violenceprevention/datingmatters)

“If a teen in your life approaches you about concerns in their dating relationship, your most helpful course of action is to believe them, support them, and validate their experiences,” says Beth Anne Langrell, CEO – For All Seasons, “Communicating to them that they have access to resources and support is critical.”

How can you support the young people in your life? There are several resources listed in https://www.teendvmonth.org/category/resources/, which includes information about how to talk with your teen about sexual violence, as well as informational websites and hotlines for teens needing support, including https://www.loveisrespect.org/.

If you know a Mid-Shore teen that needs support, contact For All Seasons. For information or appointments contact 410-822-1018. For 24-hour mental health or sexual assault crisis hotlines contact 410-820-5600 for English or 410-829-6143 for Spanish or text in English and Spanish.

For All Seasons and the Easton Family YMCA recently announced a new partnership. Beginning in January, Denae Spiering, Outreach and Events Coordinator at For All Seasons, will be available to YMCA staff and members for two hours a week to provide mental health information and resources.

“Our YMCA continues to take steps in helping care for the mental health of our members. Our mission statement calls us to help build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all those we serve in our community. To help further those efforts, the Easton Family YMCA is collaborating with For All Seasons to provide easier access to mental health consultations,” states Derek White, Group Executive, Easton Family YMCA.

CEO, Beth Anne Langrell shares, “We hope that our weekly presence at the Y will give its staff and members a meaningful opportunity to ask questions and find resources related to mental health. Our partnership demonstrates the commitment both agencies have for fostering both physical and mental wellness. We continue to be a resource for mental health services in our community, always looking for new partners in a journey toward wellness for all of our citizens.”

Spiering will provide virtual office hours through the first quarter of 2021 with the hope of having a physical presence in the YMCA soon. Spiering comments, “This opportunity offers us a new way to do outreach. When we cannot meet in person at events, this project helps us to stay connected to community members and get the important mental health information into their hands.”

For All Seasons operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-sectarian organization established in the Mid-Shore area to assist individuals, groups, and communities by providing trauma-certified Mental Health and Psychiatry Services, Rape Crisis Services including advocacy and crisis hotlines, and education and outreach to the community.  

For All Seasons is debuting a new community video on Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m. as a Facebook Live event for its 2020 No Matter What . . . You Matter Suicide Prevention Campaign. BE A LIGHT, produced by local musician Ray Remesch, features frontline workers, For All Seasons staff and board members including Beth Anne Langrell and Pam Ortiz, as well as community members Kentavius Jones, Dave Hall, Amy Steward, EJ Osterle, Katie Bernstein Cox, Sarah Chapel, and Rabbi Peter Hyman.

Remesch is known by many for his weekly music videos produced for Christ Church Easton where he serves as Minister of Contemporary Worship and for his role as part-time music instructor for Tilghman Elementary School. He also teaches private music lessons at the Academy Art Museum and helps with the Museum’s Mini Masters program, is the concert manager for Chesapeake Music, and in his free time, manages his musical group – Front Porch Orchestra.

In addition to bringing hope to those suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, the video’s goal is to raise $25,000 to cover the cost of 100 crisis appointments at For All Seasons in the coming months. Since March 1, 2020, over 650 new clients have come to For All Seasons for mental health and victim advocacy services. This is the highest increase the organization has seen in its nearly 35-year history. Those who wish to donate to For All Seasons crisis appointments can contribute during the BE A LIGHT event or through the agency website at http://forallseasonsinc.org/donate.

Photo: For All Seasons staff shares one of their “Be a Light” images as part of the No Matter What…You Matter suicide prevention campaign. From left to right, back row: Kathy Langrell, Client Services Supervisor and Omar Bolden, Client Services Specialist. From left to right, front row: Carly Burton, LCSW-C, Licensed Clinician; Beth Anne Langrell, CEO; and Jenell Sutton, Assistant Supervisor Client Services.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in the United States, one person dies by suicide every 13 minutes and in Maryland, over three times as many people died by suicide in Maryland in 2017 than in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. It reports that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 34, the 5th leading cause of death for people ages 35 to 44, the 4th leading cause of death for people ages 45 to 54, and is the 11th leading cause of death overall in Maryland. Difficulty of accessing the services of healthcare providers professionally trained to reduce suicide risk and the stigma of using behavioral health treatment have been attributed to people failing to seek mental health services before a suicide occurs.

Throughout October, For All Seasons is collaborating with local businesses to bring suicide awareness to the Mid-Shore and to share information about how to access mental health services on the Mid-Shore. The agency is delivering suicide prevention literature to stores and businesses who will then share the information with their customers. Additionally, local businesses have been invited to share messages of hope with the community through the For All Seasons Instagram and Facebook pages. Any business or organization that would like to participate in this social media campaign should reach out to Denae Spiering at dspiering@forallseasonsinc.org, 410-822-1018.

For All Seasons operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-sectarian organization established in the Mid-Shore area to assist individuals, groups, and communities by providing trauma-certified Mental Health and Psychiatry Services, Rape Crisis Services including advocacy and crisis hotlines, and education and outreach to the community.