CASSOPOLIS — Abuse and violence in a relationship can begin at a young age, which is why Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services makes an effort to speak with students as early as possible.

Over a four-day period, representatives from DASAS led presentations in two different health classes at Ross Beatty Jr.-Sr. High School, which consisted of primarily freshman students. The talks were given in February, as it is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The organization’s hope is that it is able to reach students before they enter serious relationships.

“We talk about topics like sexual violence, domestic assault, sexting, sexual harassment and bullying,” said Abigail Reardon, the volunteer and victim outreach coordinator for DASAS, who gave some of the presentations. “We’re basically talking about healthy relationships: what relationships should look like and what relationships should not look like. What are the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.”

For instance, some red flags of an unhealthy relationship that Reardon, her co-presenter, Toriann Lawrence, spoke on were isolation and exclusion and dishonesty. She said that one of the most difficult red flags for people to comprehend is jealousy, which is harmful in a relationship because it shows a lack of communication.

Some green flags of a healthy relationship are an even relationship, where both participants are giving 100-percent effort, and freedom, which is especially important for students in high school to understand.

“People don’t realize that they’re not one being,” Reardon said. “They are still two separate beings and they are able to have their own lives. Even though they have their lives together, they have their separate lives where they are allowed to do [as they please].”

She also pointed out that a healthy relationship is one that is allowed to end. She said that if someone is forced into it or feels like they cannot leave, then it is unhealthy.

The presentations took place on school days from Tuesday, Feb. 13 through Monday, Feb. 19. Originally, they were supposed to be over on Friday, Feb. 16 but needed to be extended due to weather canceling a few classes on that day.

While four days may seem like a long time to spend on one topic, Reardon says that it is beneficial and necessary to be able to discuss healthy relationships, as well as sexual and domestic abuse, over a multiple-day period.

“It always starts out with them not wanting to participate,” she said. “It’s an uncomfortable topic and they are kind of nervous to ask questions. They feel that if they do ask questions, it’s going to make it seem like they’ve been through something like this. So the first days are usually a little shaky, but we try to do activities to kind of help them open up. Usually, by the fourth day, they are asking us all of these questions, they are participating and they’re paying attention to the presentation.”

It helps that both Reardon and Lawrence are 23 years old, so it is somewhat easier for the students to relate to them.

Towards the end of the presentations, the students were asked to make signs for the “No More” campaign, which is against abuse and violence in a relationship. One day, students were also given community service hours that can be used toward their graduation requirement if they wore an orange bracelet or garment. This is done to make people more familiar with Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.