What will happen if I ran away and get caught

[Guest]

My mom and step dad treat me differently then the rest of my siblings I tried to take my life by overdosing but all it did was make me dizzy and drowsy so my mom thought I was on drugs and told everyone about me, then she yells at me and says my life is a screw up. They make me scrub floors 24/7 and they make me clean and watch there kids like its my responsibilities, I make dinner everyday and no one appreciates what I do, I tried to call social services on them I don't want to be here no more, I have a learning disability and they were getting frustrated with me and my school work and so my mother sent me to my room and said I can't come out until I learn how to be normal, an when I asked hours later to come out she told me if she let's me out then I'm gonna cleaning the house until she says I can take a break. I really wanna runaway but I dont know what's gonna happen, will I get in trouble??please help

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.

While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by forum to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hello im going through alot and wanted to harm myself but i just dont wanna do that my stepdad is mulipative and is verbally abusive i want to run away but dont have my phone and is scared of what would dhappen. if i ran away what would happen and would i get in any illegal trouble ? and also my sister wanted to go with mw so how would that work.I jus need to leave and get time out of here they got me in a tight space and i just need time to myself and got a place i can stay. PLease tell me what i could do and is it smart and if i can take my sister need to know by a tmmr

[ccsmod15]

Hello –

Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes great courage to reach out. I’m sorry to hear that life at home has led you to want to run away, that sounds like a difficult situation to deal with.

Having a place to stay to ensure that you are safe is very important. While we are not legal experts, running away is not considered illegal. However, since you are a minor, your guardians have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report, if the police find you they would return you home unless you express to them that you live in an unsafe environment. If you left home and decided to stay with a friend, they could get in trouble for harboring a runaway. To learn more about the process of running away and being able to enroll in school without your legal guardian’s permission, you can also call the National Center of Homeless Education Hotline at 1-800-308-2145.

If you would like to discuss the reasons as to why you want to runaway or you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.

We hope the information provided helps. Remember we are available 24/7 and can be toll-free reached at the number listed above. We are confidential, anonymous, and non-direct.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Guest]

So I don't really know how to explain how i'm feeling but there are times where I compare my life to my friends lives. All of a sudden with me being a teenager, my parents blame things on me and I get in trouble for it. I have so many thoughts where I want to hurt myself or run away. I'm scared to run away because if I get caught I have to go back home but I don't want to go back home cause I know my parents will hate me. I want to go somewhere I know I can't get caught because now I hate being at home and I want to leave. I am 15 so its probably not the smartest thing to do but I want to so my question is do I have to go back home or can there be a compromise where I can stay with one of the police or something because I am so tempted to run away from home right now.

[ccsmod13]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We are glad you reached out to us for help.

It definitely sounds like you’re going through a lot. Your situation sounds like it could indeed be quite frustrating and stressful. It sounds like you are having a hard time at home and being a teenager. It’s understandable to compare your life to you friends at times. Your peers are similar in age to you and you have some common familiarities. It must be tough having your parents blame you for things you haven’t done. Many teenagers are at odds with the parents, and it’s important to find coping strategies have an open line of communication to help you deal with everything.

If you are ever feeling unsafe or thinking about ending your life, we encourage you to reach out to emergency services by phone or in person. You may also reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Although things may seem to feel permanent, things do not have to remain as they are.

If you decide to leave home without your parent’s permission, they would be able to file a runaway report with the police. A runaway report is considered a status offense, and that means that you won’t be arrested. It is the equivalent of being caught smoking by the police when you are underage. But what the police do if your parents file the runaway report may be different. We are not legal experts and cannot give legal advice, but we can share some general information. In some areas, the police will take a runaway report, but will not do anything more than that. Sometimes, they will actively go out and look for the youth. Whoever you are staying with could get into trouble for harboring a runaway. This may be something you would want to discuss with your friend.

If you want to get a break from your parents, thinking about other family members or friends that they may give you permission to stay with for even a day or two may help you get a break and make it easier to handle how you are being treated.

Whether or not you decide that to leave home, we are here to discuss your situation and talk through your options. If you would like to give us a call, we can try to help you manage what is happening at home and make a plan if you leave. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat.

It takes courage to ask for help, and we wish you the best of luck with such a difficult situation.

[Guest]

I cannot figure out how to create my own post so commenting here!

Will be turning 18 in 3 months (March) Walking in on my mom who hung herself. Father was abusive and knew she probably would. She tried before and was taken to the hospital in the middle of the night years ago but he told everyone it was insomnia. He is trying to marry me off before I even turn 18 and make me stay in the house I found her in. My sister has an incredibly stable job across the US and makes more than enough to provide for me. I want to leave but I dont want to get her into trouble. We are from a family that backs him without question so I dont think I could go to the police and feel trapped. What can I do? Filing for guardianship takes 4 months and at that point I could just leave anyway but I need out now or I dont know what will happen.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and we are so glad that you decided to reach out to us. We are sorry to hear that you have had to face some traumatic events in your life.

The relationship between you and your father seems awful and you do not deserve to be treated that way. We know you mentioned not wanting to go to the police, but we do want you to know it is your choice if you want to make an abuse report. If you ever do decide to make a report you can contact Child Help at 1800-422-4453.

We are not legal experts but we do have some information on what could happen if you were to leave. Because you are a minor your father could file a runaway report, it is a possibility the police could bring you back home. Because you are so close to being 18 and with the things you have described the police may allow you to stay with your sister. As far as your sister getting in trouble, there is a thing called harboring a runaway which can be a fine or a misdemeanor. In a lot of cases this is rare to be charged with usually it happens if your sister was hiding you. With all the events you have had to experience it can be really hard to deal with alone. You do not need to cope alone you can speak to a counselor or a good resource is called NAMI (national alliance for mental illnesses). They can be reached at 1800-950-NAMI.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here for you 24/7 and wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

So I’m staying with my mom but I just came out with being sexually abused for all my life and my mom did believe me so I thought I could start telling how I really feel, and of course that didn’t happen, so what happened was, I was feeling really depressed so I told my mom and she just started going off on me telling me I’m sh*t and that I’m not worth anyone’s time and that she should beat me for saying I was felling depressed, so of course I decided I wanted to run away but I’m scared cause I don’t wanna get caught, PLEASE HELP!!!!

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like you are in a very difficult situation and we may be able to provide you with resources that may be helpful to you. If you are in danger, you can always call 911.

To begin with, no one deserves to be treated the way your mom is treating you. It is your mom’s responsibility to provide a safe and supportive environment for you. A potential resource is ChildHelp, the National Child Abuse Hotline at www.childhelp.org, or 1-800-422-4453. They have volunteers who can talk to you about your situation and offer resources that may be helpful to you.

If you want to talk to someone about your depression, you can consider contacting SAMHSA at www.samhsa.org or the SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357). SAMHSA is a 24/7 treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. SAMGSA may be able to offer you information and assistance to help you deal with your depression.

At NRS our primary goal is to ensure that you stay safe and off the street. If you leave home have you considered where you will stay? Have you considered talking to friends or other family members about your situation? If not, do you have a teacher or other trusted adult that you would be comfortable talking to about your situation?

You could also consider contacting your local division of family services to file an abuse report. If you are not comfortable doing so on your own, you can call us and one of our volunteers can make the call with or for you.

Another potential resource is National Safe Place at www.nationalsafeplace.org or text the word "safe" to and your location to 69866. They will send you the nearest safe location to you where you can go until you figure out your next steps.

We are not legal experts, but we may be able to provide some information that may be helpful to you. Running away is not illegal. If you do run away, your parents can file a runaway report. If you are picked up by the police, they will likely take you home. If you are staying with someone and you are picked up there, they could be charged with harboring a runaway.

How the police handle runaway cases varies from state to state and city to city. You may call the non-emergency number of your local police department and they may provide information on how they handle runaway and harboring cases. If you are not comfortable making the call, you can call us and we can call with or for you.

You can also always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We have volunteers available 24/7 to talk to you and to help you find resources that may be helpful to you.

We wish you the best!

[Guest]

My home life certainly isn't the best. Im currently trying to stabilize myself from 2 panic attacks i had in the past hour. I, simply put, wanna know if i ran away would i experience legal trouble? (15yo)

[ccsmod3]

Hey there! Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step. We're sorry to hear that things at home haven't been the best. When situations become so overwhelming that they cause regular panic attacks, that can definitely feel like a heavy weight. We commend you for doing what you can to stabilize yourself and see what's next for you. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to your question, as running away can be really complex and circumstantial. That said, yes. It is possible for you to experience legal trouble if you decide to runaway. For example, if your legal guardians were to report you missing. If you find yourself picked up by an officer--maybe you're missing school, maybe you're out too late, whatever the case may be--that's one interaction with the law and then another potential interaction because of that missing persons report. So it also really depends on what your definition of legal trouble is. Beyond that, in some states, minors who runaway and are considered ungovernable, may be at risk of legal consequences as well. There are far too many scenarios for us to give you a straight answer aside from a basic: it's possible.

If you'd like to chat over your particular situation in more detail, please feel free to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY or by chat at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

[Guest]

I just ran away to my friends house last night. My parents are split and I can not legally see my bio mom. My step mom hates me and openly admits it. No one in the legal system believe me bc my step mom can manipulate ANYONE. Me and my dad were best friends until she started hating me because i am kinda a mini version of my mom. In the last few days my step mom told me to leave and never come back, she told me to go to hell, she said to go get kidnapped, and she has put her hands on me. I have feared my safety around her and have had serious thought if suicide. I have 2 younger brothers that are with her and I fear their safety too because she literally spends hours screaming at the 7 year old and she Yanks the 2 year old around. My dad grew up in a rough place and he wasn't around much when I was little bc my mom hid me from him but he tries to be involved with them and he's a little too aggressive. My stepmoms parents think that he has changed her completely because they grew up in very very different backgrounds. I have a history of cutting and it stopped but I've been cutting again. The step mom only acts nice when she wants something, like help with the boys or cleaning or help with the business (she has a personal home business that is cooking. She's new at it). I have proof and witnesses to how she acts around me. My friends have been there while she's screaming at me for literally no reason. One time I spent a week at a friends house and my brother broke something so she called me and chewed my *** for it. My friend slaps me everytime I cut and I am with her now. I do not want to go back and I've been thinking about getting pregnant just so I don't have to go back. Can I stay away from them without getting pregnant? If they find me since I ran away last night I'm worried they will hurt me. There is so much more I want to say about what she does to me and my brothers but I feel this is already way too long. Please let me know how I can stay away from them. Thank you

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us and sharing some of what's going on. Please know that you absolutely do not deserve to be abused in any way and you don't deserve any of it. We never tell anyone what to do, but if you want to make an abuse report that is always an option. You can do that through us, through your state's child abuse reporting hotline, or through www.childhelp.org (1-800-422-4453). A report doesn't guarantee that you will be automatically removed from the home, but it could start a process that eventually leads to that.

It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

You also mention cutting, which can be pretty serious as well. It's understandable that you want to cope with the feelings you have. Perhaps there are ways to reduce the harm from self-injury, though. Some alternatives to cutting include things like placing your hands in cold water, snapping a rubber band against your wrist, deep breathing, and the like. You might also want to take a look at the following website, which is a really great resource that talks about people's experiences with trauma and cutting: www.twloha.com

If you would like to talk more in detail please about any of the things you are going through please call or chat with us soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). Remember that we are confidential and here 24/7. We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe and stay strong,

NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away from home and never look back

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Running away is a huge step in one's life and there are a lot of things to consider before taking off. Here at NRS our real concern is safety so hopefully you understand the importance of it on your end as well. Having a safe place to stay, a way to earn money to provide for yourself and a source for communication are all important things as well. Depending upon your age and the state you live in, there are laws regarding running away which will determine if you get returned to your parents should you run into problems.

NRS is able to assist you in providing resources to provide ways opening up communications with your parents (our Conference Call Service) as a way to give you a more comfortable home life to finding a safe place to stay close to where you live should you decide to leave. We really encourage you to stay in touch with us by calling us at 1800-runaway (1-800-786-2929) 24/7 so that we can talk to you about what's going on that's got you thinking about running away. You can also chat with us via our chat feature found at www.1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon!

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13 and my mother died when I was 10. I stay with my abusive grandfather who calls me names and wishes I didn't stay with him. I've tried multiply suicides by overdosing, if a runaway to my older cousin's house, can she get charged? Please I need advice.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time and we want you to know that you are not alone.

We are sorry to hear about your mother’s passing; we cannot imagine that pain. You do not deserve to be abused in any type of way. You do have the right to file an abuse report and there are a few ways to go about doing that. One option to consider would be to call Child Help at 1800-422-4453, and they would be able to help with a report. Another option is to speak with a school counselor about what you have been going through, they can help with filing a report. You can also call or chat with us at any time and we can help you with filing a report.

We know you mentioned suicide, that is a scary thing to think about or try. We are so glad that you survived and are able to share your experience with others and help others who are feeling the same way. There is always someone willing to listen and willing to help, please reach out to The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at : 1800-273-8255.

We know you mentioned wanting to run away, we are not legal experts but we do have some information on what could happen. If you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report and it is a possibility that you can be brought back home. It is a possibility that your cousin can get in trouble for harboring runaway, but it varies by state.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are available 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck! Stay strong
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 17 and have gone through a recent break up my parents won’t let me have my phone or truck so I can’t do anything but be alone with no phone with no one to talk to. I want to run away and start a new life I’m using an i pad btw. If I get caught will I go to A mental facility

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing a little about what’s going on. We are sorry you’re going through this breakup without being able to talk to friends or family as much as you like. It is definitely helpful to have support during these times. Although there may be ways you can communicate through the iPad, it might not be ideal but having support can make a great difference at times.
You mentioned running away, 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. However, in that case there may be services (family counseling, etc.) available to you as a youth in crisis/runaway but again, police procedures related to offering those services can be different based on your location or the details of your situation. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. One way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi my name is Emily I haven’t ran away but I’m considering it I don’t want to say my life is horrible I’m just really tired of the things my mind goes thru everyday. I don’t know what to do I’ve had counseling and things like that but I’m just really tired of being called names and being compared to my cousin who lives on the streets. I know that if I run away I’ll get compared to him once again but I can take it anymore.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes a lot of courage to reach out for help and we're really sorry you're going through such a challenging situation - it sounds extremely frustrating to have to be called names and compared to your cousin. You don't need to be compared to anyone else and you deserve to be accepted for who you are. Please know that we are here to support you however we can during this difficult time.
If you need any immediate mental health assistance, feel free to call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). They are a national organization that specializes in providing confidential, 24/7 mental health services. Additionally, if you'd like to talk more about wanting to run away, we are here. We can look for nearby shelters or other resources you may need. NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance, so if you would like to talk more in detail, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe and take care,
NRS

[Guest]

ok so my girl lives about 10 hour drive from me im 17 and ********s not going good right now. i was wondering if they could track my phone through our data provider or no? if not i can just get rid of my phone and get some cash to get another one with data for cheap. but if you can gimme any advice you have on this stuff

[ccsmod7]

Thank you for reaching out it shows a lot of courage to take that first step. We are by no means legal experts or tech experts. While they might be able to track your phone depending on the phone provider especially if it is your guardians or parents who are paying on it, the police might be less likely to follow up if you are close to the age 18.

Talking to your girl might be something worth pursing before driving to go see her and finding out her thoughts before going there is important. She might have certain expectations if you plan to stay with her. Also, you mentioned getting a new cheap phone after a while a monthly phone bill can be expensive and if it is something that you plan to do long-term thinking about how you plan to pay for it is something to take into consideration. It is important to remember that running away is not illegal, but you can still be return to your parents and taking that in to account is important to remember.

If you feel that you are not in safe place right now you can always use National Safe Place (http://www.nationalsafeplace.org) you can text, the word "safe" to 69866 and provide the location that you are at, and it will return nearest safe place to your location. It's important to remember that you are not alone, and you can always reach out to us for help we are here to help and to listen and we can talk in more in about what’s going on. We are 24/7 and can be reach either through chat, at our website (1800runaway.org), or at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i am running away from school in 2 min

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,



Thanks for contacting NRS. We hope this message reaches you well and that you have ended up in a safe place. It's hard to tell from here what you are running away from and what you are going through.



Keep in mind that we are not legal experts, but in most states your parents can report you as a runaway and have police return you home. If you are trying to run away to escape abuse, then making an abuse report might help you get placed in a more healthy living situation without the possibility of being returned home. A report could possibly justify you not feeling safe at home, but that is not always guaranteed.



If you ever feel like you're in a crisis and have access to a cell phone, you can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 at 1-800-runaway or through a live chat on our website www.1800runaway.org.



Wishing you very good luck, NRS.

[Guest]

Hi,
I wanted to reach out since I have planned on running away soon. I am a transgender male whos 13. Almost 14 soon. I love drawing and playing the piano and stuff like that.

My mom (and my entire family) are homophobic/transphobic, and my mom is verbally abusive, which has resulted in her calling me slurs, names, etc, which is most probably turning physical. She grabbed me by the chin/throat today and the day before because I had stolen my old tablet so I could look at bus tickets safely. We've argued for days, she flipped me off my mattress so I'd get off the bed and ended up hurting my back.

I have nothing. She ripped my tv out of my room, my tablet, and phone (which has already been gone for over 6 months), ps4, even my plushies, my piano, she pulled me out of school when she found out I was trans, she threatens to hurt me- or "whoop my ***," per se. All I have is my clothes and my bed pretty much.
I've always never really felt safe around her, she's bipolar and my dad left. I'm really scared- terrified since, well if I do get hit or anything or when I do leave I won't have anything to contact anyone with to tell them what's happening.
I've also dealt with past suicide attempts, the most recent being an overdose on AD. I'm scared that's gonna happen again too, though I promise myself It won't.
I wanna talk to someone but I can't call anyone, and it's unsafe to even text. My internet history is watched like a hawk.

Please help me.

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help support and guide you. It sounds like you have been going through an extremely difficult time at home. You do not deserve to be treated that way by your parents based on your sexual and gender orientation. We all deserve respect and love.

It sounds like home life is becoming increasingly more unsafe and disruptive. You mentioned you attempted to look at bus tickets for safety but also mentioned you did not feel like you had a lot of people to go to in the event you got hit or left home. For the immediate time, one resource to consider is the National Safe Place where you can text SAFE and your current address and location to 4HELP (44357) for immediate help or check out https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/ to find locations in your area. If you are ever in need of emergency shelter (a place to stay for a night), perhaps consider reaching out to 180 Degrees Agency at www.180degrees.org or phone: (612) 813-5006 which can provide options in your local area. Another consideration is Childhelp Agency (www.childhelp.org/ or phone: (800) 422-4453) which is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and may provide further support and resources. And always, there is law enforcement which can be accessed by calling 911 if you feel your physical safety is in severe harm.

If these options are not doable for you, perhaps one option is to consider participating in extracurricular activities (sports, theater, writing clubs, etc) at school which would allow you less time away from your parents but still allow you to have a home to go to at the end of the day. Depending on your geographical area, a local Boys & Girls Club (website: www.bgca.org; phone: (404) 487-5700) may be another option that is a safe after school program. Or, consider any friends that you trust and have your best interest that may allow you to stay with them after school before you return home to lessen exposure time.

Lastly, you mentioned prior suicide attempts. We are sorry you have felt such pain that made you consider ending your life. If you ever feel that severe hopelessness again, please consider contacting the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-(800)-273-8255.

If you should have any other questions or concerns, we are a confidential, available resource 24/7 through the forum, online chat, or call anytime at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

We wish you the very best,

NRS

[Guest]

I'm only 13 and I want to run away. I don't want to go to juvie tho I already have a case on me and I have a court date coming up and I don't want them to think I'm running away to run away from jail I'm running away from my mentally abusive mother...

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to NRS. We are here to help support you during these extremely tough times. No one deserves to be treated that way; especially by your parents who should always love and protect you. It sounds like you are doing your best to remain calm and non-reactive in these situations. However, your safety is most important to us, so here are some ideas to think about:

If possible, inform your case worker about the verbal/mental abuse you are enduring at home.

You may want to try to reach out to trusted friends and family to spend time with to help you cope and get time away from your mother. Additionally, for times when you feel unsafe or verbally abused, there’s a national resource called National Safe Place where you can text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357) and they will guide you to designated areas in your town/city where you could go that are safe (fire station, a library, local store). And of course, there is always your local police force with whom you call at 911 if you felt immediate danger and no one was there to defend you.

Another idea that you could implement into your daily routine is consider getting more involved with an afterschool program (sports, theater, debate club) that interests you. That way, you can limit the amount of time you spend at home and reduce your exposure around your mother. If you still have classes online at home, then consider looking for a YMCA or Boys & Girls’ Club which are places you could spend time with teens your age, study, play sports, and decompress after a long school day.

Also, a school guidance counselor is usually a service offered at every school. This could be someone you confide in about your home life and help provide you with ways to deal with what sounds like an extremely unsupportive home life.
It takes bravery to reach out and ask for help. We are a 24/7 service readily available to help you with further questions that you may have through online chat, forum, and email. Do not hesitate to reach back out.

We wish you the very best,
NRS