Healthy Relationships“They’re not just for people ‘in love’”

With a partner or group of three, brainstorm all the different relationships that you are in.

What can we come up with as a class?

What different types of relationships are there?

Now that we have seen all the different relationships that we are a part of let us look at the positive aspects of these relationships.

What do you get out of being in these relationships?

What benefits do relationships bring?

Mutual Respect Respect in a relationship means that each person

values who the other is and understands — and would never challenge — the other person's boundaries.

Trust Jealousy is a natural emotion. But how a person reacts

when feeling jealous is what matters. Honesty

Being open and truthful with others is a key to having healthy relationships

What makes a relationship healthy?

Support Being there for each other through good and

bad times Fairness/Equality

You need to have give-and-take in your relationship

Good communication Often the biggest key to a healthy relationship

is being able to communicate It’s important is to ask if you're not sure what

someone means, and to speak honestly and openly

What could be some signs of an unhealthy relationship?

How do you feel when you are a part of an unhealthy relationship?

Make a list on your paper with one column describing how you feel in a healthy relationship and one column describing how you feel in an unhealthy relationship.

We will come back to this again later…

Unhealthy relationships

On a piece of paper, create a list of qualities that allow someone to communicate well in one column and qualities that prevent someone from communicating well in another column.

How many of those qualities are verbal? Non-verbal?

Good vs. Bad Communication

You will be put in groups and given a card that has a unique role-playing scenario described for you.

Your task is to come up with a short skit that focuses on the problem that is given and come up with a solution that will help promote or maintain a future healthy relationship

You will be acting this out for the class to observe

Role Playing Scenarios

What skills were used to deal with the relationship?

What level of commitment is involved in this relationship?

Can you suggest other ways the characters may have handled this situation?

What were your feelings as you watched this role-play?

Follow-up

More than just friends…

What is a “dating relationship?” Dating usually means that two

people are spending time together in a close relationship. These relationships can be complex, and usually develop over time and may consist of friendship, romantic love, and/or intimacy involving sexual activity

Do you ever feel pressure to date? What are some sources of this pressure?

Dating

There are many male and female stereotypes around dating.

Anonymously write on a piece of paper what you think are some expectations that males and females may have about dating. On your piece of paper only identify yourself as male or female. You can turn these slips of paper in at the front of the class.

Dating expectations

What does “safe dating” mean to you? Some tips to promote safe dating:

Dating should be fun and provide you with an opportunity to get to know the other person. It is important to share decisions around where you will go and what you might do on that date. If it is your first time together you may want to go out with another couple or in a group. Stay in places where other people are around.

Be aware of the effects of substance use and the risk of sexual activity as a result

Safe Dating

Know your limits around sexual activity. Being clear about your limits makes it easier to express them to a date and to stick by them. It is important to discuss issues such as abstaining from sexual activity before you find yourself in a sexual situation.

Be honest with your date and use assertive communication strategies. If you no longer want to date the other person explain why clearly and simply.

More tips!

You have been given one or two cards with a statement about a relationship

Place these cards on the board under either HEALTHY or UNHEALTHY

Let’s discuss why we placed these cards where we did

Unhealthy and Abusive Relationships

Unhealthy and Abusive Relationships

What makes an unhealthy relationship?

Why may it be hard for someone to acknowledge that they are in an unhealthy relationship?

Why do people sometimes stay in unhealthy relationships?

If someone is in an unhealthy relationship what can he/she do about it?

Identifying an Abusive Relationship

In groups of two or three, go through the case study that you have been given looking at Jen and Mark’s relationship.

You will have 10 minutes to answer the questions and then you may need to share some of your responses with the class

Case Study

What could be some examples of these different types of abuse? Brainstorm with a partner. Physical Emotional Psychological Sexual

Different types of abuse

What could be some signs that a person may be experiencing a violent/abusive relationship?

Warning Signs

Mood or personality changes. Physical injuries like bruises, sores,

scratches or broken bones-especially if the injuries do not match the story they tell you.

Sudden changes in clothes or makeup.

Failing grades or dropping out of school activities.

Emotional outbursts or over-reacting to things that see small or unimportant

Withdrawing from friends or family. Difficulty making decisions. Sudden changes in mood or

personality (e.g. becoming anxious or depressed, acting out, and being secretive).

Changes in eating or sleeping habits, avoiding eye contact.

What are some reasons teens do not tell their parents or friends about violence?

Embarrassed, ashamed, stupid, worthless Alone and afraid of getting hurt Convinced it’s their fault Scared of getting in trouble Parents or friends will blame them or will

be disappointed. Confused- they may think this is how

people show love.

Keeping a secret

Nobody deserves to be abused. Abuse is not a sign of love or affection and builds fear, not love.

If you are being abused find someone you trust to talk to. Talk to your partner and explain that you are going to leave if the abuse does not stop. Trust your instincts.

If your friend is being abused, talk it out by being a good listener and offering your support. Tell your friend that nobody deserves to be abused. Be patient; it can take time for your friend to make changes.

Final thoughts…