Splendiferous!

There's a new study out saying that girls who have been abused in relationships are more likely to get tested for and contract an STD.

That's not the most troubling thing about the study though. This is:

[The study] found that almost one out of every three girls surveyed said they had ever been sexually and/or physically abused by a date.

One out of every three girls. That is a horrifying rate!

So how to combat this? Michelle Decker, the author of the study, has it exactly right:

But "the real work remains to be done with young men to prevent dating violence from ever occurring," Decker told Reuters Health. "To truly prevent dating violence and its damaging health impacts, we must promote healthy and respectful relationships among teens and hold abusers accountable for their actions."

Healthy and respectful relationships among everyone! Don't stand silently by while someone is being abused. Know the signs.