Video helps teens talk about date violence

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Jill Hudson

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TR Leger students at General Vanier Intermediate School in Cornwall acted in and produced a video called,

Jill Hudson, St. Lawrence EMC

TR Leger students at General Vanier Intermediate School in Cornwall acted in and produced a video called, "I didn't know but I now I do" which confronts the issue of teen dating violence and offers the service available to help people who have been assaulted. The video will be available through the UCDSB resource centre. From left, Storm Bellemore-Tuttle, Kaity Ladouceur and Nathanael Crawshaw.

EMC News - TR Leger students and Assault & Sexual Abuse Program (ASAP) at the Cornwall Community Hospital teamed up to produce a video which addresses teen dating violence.

"Dating violence is a serious health and criminal issue," said Sarah Kaplin, ASAP manager.

She said the hospital was trying to find a way to communicate its services to teens. The video was a year in the making - they started work on it last January and finished in June. After that they waited to get approval from the hospital and the school board before going public with it.

"I think this can absolutely be a vehicle for major discussion - as long as people use this video as a tool," said Kaplin.

TR Leger students in Cornwall produced a video called, "I didn't know but now I do" which is a teen dating violence awareness video. This production was made by teens for teens and was launched on Jan. 25.

The video depicts scenarios including a controlling boyfriend who tells his girlfriend what to wear and breaks things, rape and physical assault. The more contentious aspects are discussed rather than showing violence.

Kaity Ladouceur plays a girl who is sexually assaulted by a random guy who gives her a ride after a party. The video does not show the rape scene - instead the teen talking to a peer about the ordeal.

She said youth do not typically talk about teen or dating violence.

"People are unaware and they don't talk about it as much as they should," she said. She said she enjoyed the experience of working on the video. "I learned a lot about domestic violence. Some things I didn't recognize as abuse - but it really is. I think once the school starts showing it I think people are going to discuss it because it's not like other videos that you see about domestic violence - the ones from the '70s. Teens back then were so different from how they are now. I think people are going to relate to it more."

The youth commented on reasons she thinks people keep quiet about their abuse. "I think people feel isolated, alone," she said. "That is why they don't come out and say things because they feel that people won't truly understand and they feel as though it's embarrassing to talk about because they probably feel as though they are doing something wrong. I think that it needs to be discussed more because if not things are not going to change."

Ashley Grant is a teacher at the TR Leger transitions program. She said the video will be used in physical education class and for the personal management course. "...to give the kids an idea of what date violence is and what healthy relationships look like before they can get help in this town. We have issues with that, within my class - people having bad relationships and needing help."

The Assault Response and Care Centre of Leeds and Grenville is the local resource to help people who have been sexually or domestically assaulted. It is located at 70 Charles St Suite 201 in Brockville, across from the Brockville General Hospital emergency room.

The video will become available through the Upper Canada District School Board media resource centre in mid-February. Since the video has just been released the school board does not know at which schools the video will be shown - but the video available in the resource centre.