Relationships

Healthy Relationships | Unhealthy Relationships | Abusive/Toxic Relationships

We all strive to have healthy relationships, whether they’re friendships or romantic relationships. But they can be unhealthy, toxic, or abusive, and it’s important to be able to tell the difference.

Source: Love Is Respect

These are some of the characteristics of healthy, unhealthy, and abusive (or toxic) relationships. Watch for signs that your relationship (or that of someone you know) might be slipping into the unhealty, toxic or abusive categories, and if so, reach out to a trusted adult to talk about your concerns or call one of the hotlines in the “Get Help Now” section. If it is an emergency situation and you are in danger, get away from the dangerous situation (if you can) and call 911.

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Roo the Chatbot

Roo answers all your awkward questions about sexual health, relationships, growing up, and more. Chatting with Roo is free and private, so go ahead and ask the things you don't want to ask out loud. Roo's answers are backed by professional health educators from Planned Parenthood, the most trusted provider of sexual education.

Building Healthy Relationships (For Teens) | Oasis

VIDEO | 3 minutes

What Teens Think About: Healthy Relationships | myHealth for Teens & Young Adults

VIDEO (2 minutes)

Teens Talk Relationships: Trusted Adults Edition | We Think Twice

VIDEO (5 minutes)

Teens Talk Relationships: Friendship Edition | We Think Twice

VIDEO (4 minutes)

Teens Talk Relationships: Dating Edition | We Think Twice

VIDEO (5 minutes)

What Makes A Relationship Healthy? | amaze

VIDEO (2 minutes)

Dealing With Rejection: What’s the Best Way? | amaze

VIDEO (1.5 minutes)

Signs of a Toxic Relationship | amaze

VIDEO (2 minutes)

How do you know someone wants to have sex with you? | Planned Parenthood

VIDEO (4 minutes)

Consent: A Practical Guide | Sex, Etc.

A big part of being a teenager is kicking back with some snacks and binge-watching movies and TV for hours on end. Sources of entertainment can be extremely influential in shaping our attitudes and actions. Unfortunately, movies and TV don’t always represent relationships, consent and sex realistically.

Relationships 101 | Planned Parenthood

Confused about relationships? You’re not alone.

Three Signs of a Healthy Relationship | onelove TikTok

Honesty, respect, and independence are just a few of the signs of a healthy relationship.…

Is your relationship healthy? – love is respect

Everyone deserves to be in a safe and healthy relationship. Do you know if your relationship is healthy? Answer yes or no to the following questions to find out.

Sexual Assault, Consent and Sexual Harassment: What’s The Difference? | amaze

VIDEO (3 minutes)

Can I rely on body language or non-verbal cues for consent?

No, body cues are not an exact science and leave way too much room for misinterpretation. And since they blur the lines between giving and receiving consent,it is safest to get an unmistakable and enthusiastic yes from your partner before engaging in sexual activity. There is NO CONSENT when: Someone says “no” There’s not a “no”...

How big is the dating violence problem?

Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing and name-calling, are a “normal” part of a relationship. However, these behaviors can become abusive and develop into serious forms of violence. Many teens do not report unhealthy behaviors because they are afraid to tell family and friends. Teen dating violence is common. Data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior...

How can I help/support a friend who is in an abusive relationship?

If you think that a friend or someone you know is in an abusive or unhealthy relationship, it can be difficult to know what to do. Here are a few tips to help you talk to your friend. Calmly start a conversation on a positive note Find time to talk to your friend one-on-one in a...

How do I know if it is okay to kiss my partner?

It can definitely be confusing to know when you can and can’t kiss someone you like. The only way to know for sure if you can kiss your partner or engage in any sexual behaviors with them is to ask them each and every time. This is called getting their consent. It is very common to...

I was forced to have sex last night and I want to talk to someone about it. Who can I call?

You should seek immediate medical care to be evaluated for any health risks including HIV. You may be eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which has to be started right away and is used to prevent HIV. You may also need to talk to a trusted adult – a parent, a relative, a health clinic provider, or ...

If my partner says “yes” to kissing, does that mean I can touch their breasts and/or genitals?

Just because a person consents to kissing, it doesn’t mean that they are consenting to all sexual behaviors. It may seem like they want to go further or engage in other behaviors, but the only way to know for sure is to ask for consent. It is important to communicate with your partner about what behaviors...

What is Title IX (Title 9) and what are my rights as an LGBTQ+ person?

Title IX (included in the U.S Department of Education's Education Amendments of 1972) protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or...

How do I decide whether to leave my abusive partner?

Only you can know what’s best for you. Statistically speaking, very few abusers stop being abusive. For some, leaving is a powerful way to regain control of their lives. For others, leaving can further complicate their situations. Abusers often make terrifying threats to shut down the possibility of leaving (threatening self-harm or suicide, or threatening to...

Healthy Relationships

Healthy relationships are based on equality and respect. You make decisions together and can openly discuss whatever you’re dealing with, like relationship problems and sexual choices. You enjoy spending time together but can be happy apart. These relationships are based on respect, good communication, trust, honesty, physical and emotional safety, and equality. Each person in...

Unhealthy Relationships

Signs | Pornography | Sexting | Get Help Unhealthy relationships can be characterized by power imbalances, dishonesty and/or disrespect. They can also include behaviors that make someone feel afraid or monitored. There is a fine line between "unhealthy relationships" and "abusive or toxic relationships". Any of the below signs is a red flag for an...

Consent

What is Consent? | Consent & Sexual Violence | Get Help Sexual consent is when you and your sexual partner both agree to have sex or engage in any kind of sexually intimate activity. The legal age of consent in Rhode Island is 16 years old. This means under Rhode Island law, a minor aged 15...

Rights & Privacy

Your right to: Privacy/Confidentiality | Affordable Care Healthcare Services | Safe Schools As a young person in Rhode Island, you have the right to lead a healthy life by having full access to confidential and affordable health care. Your legal right to sexual and reproductive health care includes accessing birth control, condoms, emergency contraception, abortion,...

Abusive/Toxic Relationships

Signs | Sexual Violence | Cyberbullying | Revenge Porn | Sexual Grooming | Sextortion | Sex Trafficking | Get Help An abusive or toxic relationship consists of a pattern of behaviors used to maintain power and control over a former or current intimate partner, which tends to escalate over time. Whether the violence is physical, sexual, verbal, emotional,...

Sexual Exploitation Dangers

Revenge Porn | Sexual Grooming | Sextortion | Sex Trafficking | Get Help Sexual exploitation is when a person profits from the use of another person's body in a sexual manner in order to benefit (financially or otherwise). This can include abusing a position of power, trust, or vulnerability for sexual purposes. The perpetrator may also take advantage of the...