Director’s Blog – Kate Gorman
This is how a young person described the behaviour of Amy, the victim (and survivor) of teen domestic abuse in our play “A is for Amy”.
I have been thinking about this a lot.
Some of her behaviour could be perceived as her “being mental”.
She becomes withdrawn, she becomes snappy, she’s inconsistent and unreliable, she stops going to college, she stops looking after herself physically, she’s tearful…
But why?
Why is she behaving like this?
I asked the young person, if anything was making her behave like this.
Slowly you could see them start to make the links between what her abuser was doing to her and how she was behaving.
So, I have an ask…
If you notice a child or young person you know behaving out of character.
No matter how slowly this change happens.
Don’t look away.
Ask.
They might not tell you.
They might not be able to.
But they might tell you.
Now or another day.
Be there for them.
Let them know that you are there.
Let them know that you care.
You could be making a powerful difference to them now and in the future.
