how to prevent murders caused by break-ups between lovers. According to the statistics surveyed between January 2007 to June 2008 from TWRF, on average, three persons die each month due to murders and attempted murders committed by lovers. The numbers new are three times higher than in the past five years.
Kao Hsiao-ching, CEO of TWRF, suggested four points that people should follow. The four points are represented in the acronym "STOP": "safe," "time," "occasion," and "person."
"Safe" means observing one's significant other in daily life, such as his or her behavior, friends, and living background. This can help someone determine whether his or her lover is safe.
"Time" means someone needs to make sure if his or her lover does not have excessive control of the other's personal life.
"Occasion" means people should not choose remote or dark places as date locations, in hopes of preventing date violence.
"Person" means the EQ of a person is very important. It is a dangerous sign if he or she often smashes something while arguing.
Apart from choosing lovers carefully, specialists attending the seminar gave advice to parents on how to teach children to deal with distress, especially when children face an end of relationship. Director of Parents Association in Taipei, Chang Hui-hsin, said parents need to establish a sense of security for children, telling them "whatever happens outside the home, we will alway be there for you."
Psychiatrist Li Kuang-hui said shifting one's focus on something else is the most helpful way of facing distress. "Finding another person to love is the best way to deal with a break-up," he said.
Given that mass media are very influential, famous author Tsai Shih-ping hopes that TV programs can discuss this issue seriously and build an environment where people can learn how to cope with similar problems in daily life.
"TV hosts always joke around, saying you should just sleep with another person to get back at someone who has betrayed you," he said. "But in real life things are not as easy as that."
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