12/14/2022
What are some warning signs of potential abuse you can watch for?
There can be many reasons why someone's behavior changes, but if you notice a lot of these or very sudden, drastic changes in their behavior, it may be time to step in, ask questions and speak up.
• regular absences from school, missing training, work or other activities
• being dishonest about where they’ve been and whom they’ve been with
• developing an unusually close connection with an older person
• having large amounts of money, which they cannot account for
• being picked up by an older or new friend from school, or down the street
• displaying mood changes (hyperactive, secretive, hostile, aggressive, impatient, resentful, anxious, withdrawn, depressed)
• using street or different language or copying the way a new friend may speak
• using a new mobile phone (possibly given to them by a new friend), excessively making calls, videos or sending text messages
This is not an exhaustive, all-inclusive list and there are many other potentials signs and/or reasons for these behavior changes, BUT in order to change the paradigm of abuse, we must first be aware and educated.