Dating violence isn’t an argument every once in a while, or a bad mood after a bad day. Dating violence (or relationship abuse) is a pattern of violent behavior that someone uses against a partner.

Abuse can cause injury and even death, but it doesn’t have to be physical. It can include verbal and emotional abuse - constant insults, isolation from friends and family, name calling, controlling what someone wears - and it can also include sexual abuse.

• It can happen to anyone, at any age, no matter what race or religion they are, no matter what their level of education or economic background.

• Dating violence also occurs in same-sex relationships.