I chose to donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book to loveisrespect National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline because it is the most comprehensive source for teens and parents to learn about teen dating abuse.

The Helpline was launched in 2007 through collaboration between The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) and Liz Claiborne Inc. It is a 24-hour national live chat and telephone helpline created to help teens experiencing dating abuse.

The Helpline is available toll free, and individuals also may log on to the interactive website, loveisrespect.org, and receive immediate, confidential assistance in a chat/IM format. Loveisrespect.org is one of the first interactive dating abuse websites staffed by trained peer and young adult advocates (16 to 24 years old), where teens can get immediate assistance in a one-on-one private chat. In 2008, 58 percent of callers to the Helpline were female, 13 percent were male and 29 percent were unknown. Due to confidentiality, the gender of the teen web chatters is often unknown. As I write this, the folks at loveisrespect tell me that they are expecting 50,000 total contacts (both calls and chats) by the end of 2009. That's too many!

More and more research is being conducted into the issue of teen dating abuse. The findings have been astounding. In March 2006, Liz Claiborne Inc. commissioned a study that showed alarming numbers of teens experience and accept abusive behavior in dating relationships. Many teens also feel physically and sexually threatened. Here are just a few statistics.

• 1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner.
  
• 1 in 3 girls who have been in a serious relationship say they've been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner.
  
• 1 in 4 teens who have been in a serious relationship say their boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family; the same number have been pressured to only spend time with their partner.
  
• 1 in 3 girls between the ages of 16 and 18 say sex is expected for people their age if they're in a relationship; half of teen girls who have experienced sexual pressure report they are afraid the relationship would break up if they did not give in.
  
• Nearly 1 in 4 girls who have been in a relationship reported going further sexually than they wanted as a result of pressure.
  

Please join me in helping to educate teens and parents about what healthy relationships should look like. You can make a difference by helping the Helpline. More teens than ever are now reaching out for help. Your support could save a young person's life. Log on to www.loveisrespect.org or call 1-866-331-9474 (1-866-331-8453 TTY). To donate to this worthy cause, click on the "Get Involved" link on the website.

Excerpted from material in Danielle Joy Linhart's book From Deep Within