CPS urges doctors to ask teens about dating violence

OTTAWA – One in three teens in Canada experiences dating violence, prompting a new push from the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) on how health-care providers can screen for relationship abuse.

A new practice point from the CPS warns that dating violence among adolescents is a public health threat with immediate and long-term adverse health consequences and recommends that health care providers routinely talk to teens about healthy relationships.

“Normalizing these discussions helps build trust with adolescent patients and provides opportunities to share knowledge with youth and caregivers,” said Dr. Megan Harrison, Chair of the CPS Adolescent Health Committee. “The goal of these conversations is not disclosure but to create a safe environment where teens can talk about violence, whether in the moment or later on.”

Dating violence can be physical, sexual, psychological, technology-facilitated, or stalking. Disproportionately higher rates of TDV are reported among socially marginalized groups, including gender-diverse youth, youth with disabilities, and youth in care.

Practitioners can use the "CUES" framework to discuss dating violence and healthy relationships with their adolescent patients:

• Confidentiality: Speak with teens alone during every visit and outline the boundaries of confidentiality.
• Universal Education: Normalize conversations about healthy and unhealthy relationships with all patients to make sure they know you are a safe person to talk to.
• Support: Refer to community resources if a disclosure is made.

Because technology-assisted violence is increasingly prevalent in modern relationships, clinicians must also consider digital privacy.

“Partners in an abusive relationship can easily monitor online activity,” Dr. Harrison said. “Before handing out digital resources, for example, try asking the teen whether they prefer physical copies instead.”

The full practice point is available on the Canadian Paediatric Society's website..

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