The Last to Let Go was inspired, not by one real-life story, but many
Domestic or intimate partner violence is often referred to as one of the most “predictable and preventable” crimes, yet there is still so much silence, stigma, shame, and misunderstanding surrounding this kind of abuse.
Here are some important facts about Domestic Violence (DV), Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and Dating Abuse:
Every minute, 24 people become the victim of domestic or intimate partner violence
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime
DV or IPV affects 12 million people in the United States every year
It is estimated that a child will witness one in four of these acts of violence
Children who are exposed to DV in the home are 15 times more likely to be victims of abuse or violence
Children of domestic violence are 3 times more likely to repeat the cycle of DV in adulthood
Men who [as children] witnessed their parents’ domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners as adults
Things EVERYONE should know about Teen Dating Abuse:
Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year
One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence
One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend
Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence – almost triple the national average
Among female victims of intimate partner violence, 94% of those age 16-19 and 70% of those age 20-24 were victimized by a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend
Violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18
Nearly half (43%) of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors
Being physically or sexually abused makes teen girls 6 times more likely to become pregnant & twice as likely to get a STI
LGBTQ+ youth face the same rates and types of dating violence as heterosexual couples, yet there are often additional emotional, social, and legal obstacles that interfere with finding help
Why awareness is so important:
Only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse
81% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue
Though 82% of parents feel confident that they could recognize the signs if their child was experiencing dating abuse, a majority of parents (58%) could not correctly identify the warning signs
Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence
The severity of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence
Although The Last to Let Go is fictional, what I hope it illuminates is that behind every statistic are real people with real lives and real struggles. The cycle of abuse can be extremely difficult to break free from; leaving is never simple or easy.
If you or someone you know needs help, you are not alone. For a list of resources, please visit the IF YOU NEED HELP page.
*statistics come from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and LoveIsRespect websites