Chat with Teenage son (may be triggering)

[totallystumped]

We live not too far from where the multiple attacks happened to that poor young woman and I was talking to DS (16) about them.

He was horrified and angry that people could do such things. So I asked him what HE would do if he saw a woman/girl who seemed lost/upset/drunk/injured/otherwise vulnerable.

He said he'd ask if she was OK and if not try to help her phone someone to come and get her or call the police.

All well and good I thought at the time.

But I've been thinking since, and wonder if that is actually a reasonable course of action.

If someone had been assaulted would they really want a big, deep voiced teenage boy approaching them?

Could he be potentially putting himself at risk?

What should you advise a young lad to do if faced with this kind of situation?

The alternative would be to ignore a vulnerable person so I think he's best to offer support but stay in well lit and busy areas,don't get into walking someone home as they could claim he's done something and he's opening himself up to risk. If he's calling police for them or encouraging them to call a friend then that's great I think! Good on your ds :)

I'd never advise him to ignore ANYONE in need of help (he's seen me do the are you OK? routine a couple of times, to both males and females, but I'm a middle-age woman)

I just wonder if there is a best course of action he should take if alone, or even with friends, so as not to risk further distress.

Mine intervened in a domestic that had got physical in Halls recently. I was glad that he did.

Your DS would not have known about the incident in question, before approaching her, to debate whether or not she would want another male around her. It’s even possible the young woman may not want to discuss what has happened with a stranger. If your DS approached a young woman who clearly looked distressed, and like she needed help, I’d say he’d done a lovely thing in approaching her and he should contact the police immediately. Your DS sounds great.

There is nothing wrong with asking someone if they are ok. They can say, "yes, I need help" or "no, I don't".

I'd advise him to keep a distance from both males and females to avoid frightening/provoking them and to ensure that his good deed is not taken the wrong way. It would also give room to get away if things turned nasty.

Or maybe to keep watch from a distance to check they are ok but not approach - but not if this, would be worrying for them in itself.

Butv above all I'd tell him not to put himself into danger