Police and community partners in Smiths Falls say early education and stronger conversations with young people are key to preventing intimate partner violence, especially as youth are exposed to adult situations online.
The latest episode of Silence Broken: The IPV Talks focuses on how internet use, image-sharing and social media are shaping teen relationships. Guest Sean Keogan of the Smiths Falls Police Service says building trust in schools helps young people speak up earlier.
Keogan says youth often do not understand that sharing intimate images, even with a partner, can become a criminal matter when consent is ignored.
The discussion also highlights how easy access to online content exposes kids to adult behaviour too early, shaping unhealthy views of relationships.
Education programs, police outreach and support from groups such as Lanark County Interval House are aimed at helping teens understand consent, boundaries and respectful relationships before harm occurs.
You can listen to the complete Podcast with Bob Perreault, Erin Lee, and Sean Keogan below.