CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — Community members gathered in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month for a panel discussion focused on toxic behaviors, mental health and healthy boundaries in teen relationships.

Interim Executive Director Matthew Fletcher helped guide the conversation, defining teen dating violence in clear terms. he said. “One person in that relationship is exerting control and taking away the power from the other person.”

Sophia, a Centennial High School student, said miscommunication often fueled unhealthy dynamics among her peers. “I feel like in both perspectives of the relationship, they tend to not understand each other and communicate properly,” she said. “Instead of talking about it, they assum “One of the ways I try to understand teen dating violence or domestic violence is that it always contains two key components — power and control,”e things about each other that aren’t true, and that creates a lot of problems.”

She also described how conflict had extended into friend groups. “They tend to try and get your closest friends on their side,” Sophia said. “Choosing their closest friends against you — I feel like that’s very toxic.”

Asia, a sophomore at the University of Illinois and a recent Centennial graduate, said teens sometimes referred to complicated or undefined relationships as “situationships.”

“I thought it was very toxic, honestly,” she said. “I had seen people around me, and it led them to hurt other people and hurt each other.”

When asked what healthy relationships should look like, Sophia emphasized respect and independence. “You should be able to be yourself without being judged,” she said. “There should be trust, respect, and you both still get to have your own friends and your own life.”

Fletcher reinforced that message. “The foundation of all healthy relationships is respect,” he said. “We needed to strive to see everyone as equal. Any relationship that didn’t start with you having dignity and being able to set healthy boundaries was one we wanted to avoid.”

Asia also addressed the role technology had played in teen relationships. “I knew the term ‘love bombing’ — it was all over social media,” she said. “Sometimes people wanted phone passwords or didn’t want their partner talking to other people online. It became about control.”

The discussion had been part of a broader community effort. The Champaign County Community Coalition, in partnership with Courage Connection, hosted the “Breaking the Cycle – Town Hall Event” on Feb. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cityview Banquet and Meeting Center, located on the fourth floor of the Illinois Terminal in Champaign.

The forum brought together community members, local leaders, educators, parents and youth to engage in dialogue about teen dating violence. Organizers said the event focused on raising awareness, sharing resources and discussing prevention strategies to help break cycles of abuse and promote healthy relationships among young people.

Participants were also invited to complete a community survey designed to gather feedback, identify local needs and inform future initiatives related to prevention, education and support services.

Community leaders applauded the teens for their honesty and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting safe, respectful relationships among youth.