I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I want to run away. My parents call me names and say that they tried to get an abortion. My dad calls me a little peice of sh*t, my mom calls me a screw up and my stepmom called me a fa**** and a faliure, whenever I cry they slap me and whenever I try to explain to the other parent that the other one abuses me in speech. I have enough money and supplies in a hidden backpack. I'm turning 13 in November. I have servers anxiety and depression. I tried to kill myself twice but they caught me. I have been planning this for 5 years now. In total I have 15,000 dollars in the backpack from friends and chores over the years. I have 6 pairs of clothes and 2 sticks of deodorant. What should I do?

[ccsmod15]

We are sorry you are having such a rough time at home. In no way do you deserve the sort of abuse your parents have inflicted on you. That is just wrong. One option for you to consider is making an abuse report. You can do this in a few different ways: 1) call your state's child abuse reporting hotline, 2) call Child Help (www.childhelp.org) at 1-800-422-4453, 3) talk to a teacher or school counselor about it, 4) call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Of course, it's up to you if you wish to report the abuse or not. We never tell anyone what to do.

If you do decide to report the abuse this would probably lead to an investigation as to what is going on in the home and a determination would be made as to what is in the best interests of you and the family. It doesn't automatically mean you would be separated from your family, but it could lead to that, depending on how serious the abuse is deemed.

We are pretty concerned when you mention that you previously attempted suicide. Our biggest concern is for your safety, so please consider getting the help you need if you feel suicidal again. It's good to talk about what you are feeling to someone that you trust: maybe another relative, teacher, counselor, or anyone you feel comfortable with. You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) at 1-800-273-8255. Since you mention anxiety and depression, you can also call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) to talk about what you are going through. Their number is 1-800-950-6264 or you can text NAMI to 741741.

As for running away: this is a big decision to face, especially at 12 years old. You might want to consider things like how you would remain safe, where you would go, how this would affect your schooling and your future, and the like. You also want to consider that your parents could file a runaway report on you if you leave home without permission. This means that the police would most likely just bring you back home when you are caught. (Of course, you could also tell the police about the abuse if you were found.) So there definitely is a lot to consider.

We'd like to assist you further but need some more information to see how we can help. The best way for us to do that is if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are confidential and here 24/7. You can also chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon!

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I have enough money for a plane ticket to Europe.

I have made enough money to take a plane to Europe. My parents are verbally abusive, I have servere anxiety and depression. I have enough food, water, clothes, money to last a year. Please help me NRS!

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,
Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension - you shouldn't be abused in any way. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. You stated that your goal is to go to Europe. It should be noted that most minors (especially those as young as 12) are unable to fly without a chaperone. Additionally, due to COVID-19 and the US's sky-high rate of infection, many countries are considering shutting its borders to any foreign nationals.

You mentioned that you have been dealing with some severe anxiety and depression. It can be really hard to live with mental health issues and we want you to know that you aren’t alone in addressing them. If you’d like some additional support, an organization that may be helpful is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). You can contact them by calling 1-800-950-NAMI or you can text them by sending NAMI to 741741. Another agency that could be of great help is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), they can help you locate low or no-cost mental health care providers in your area. Their number is 1-800-662-4357 or you can go to their site at samhsa.gov.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 15 my relationship with my parents is terrible I want to runaway but I live in the countryside and there are no shelters near me

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out. We appreciate you taking the time to write to us and we are always here to listen and help.

It sounds like home is getting to be too stressful for you. We are sorry that your parents are terrible but we’re here to help think up some options for you. Please call or chat with us and we can see what else we can do. We do have a database of resources.

Again, thanks for reaching out. Please give us a call at 1(800) RUNAWAY or chat with us on our website www.1800runaway.org . We are open 24/7, so we’re always available. You’re not alone in this!

Best, NRS

[Guest]

I wanna die or runaway
I wanna run away because my parents force me to do all the chores in the house I ask for a phone but they won't let me have one so I am typing with a computer. My parents threat to abuse me and kill me they said that they wish that I was kidnapped or not born. I am really stressed and have no option but to run away I don't know when I do but I wanna do it as soon as possible. If you get this pls don't tell my parents bc if they find out they will just abuse me. I just wanna run away. Pls Help

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us here at The National Runaway Safeline, and sharing a little bit of your story with us. Wow it sounds like you have been dealing with a lot lately, and we want you to know we are here for you.
You do not deserve to be told those awful things or to be abused in any type of way, and we are sorry you are having to deal with all of that. You do have every right to file an abuse report and there are a few ways you can go about doing that. One option to consider is calling Child Help at: 1800-422=4453 and they can help with an abuse report. You can also talk with a school counselor or a teacher and because they are mandated reporters they would be able to help with an abuse report. You can also call or chat online with us and we can help you file an abuse report. If you are ever in immediate danger please call 911.
You also mentioned wanting to die, we want you to know we care and you are worth living. Suicide is a permanent decision to a temporary situation. We know you mentioned not having a phone but you can go on suicidepreventionlifeline.org, and they have an online chat where you can talk to a professional about what you are feeling. You do not have to deal with these thoughts and emotions alone.
We are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws. If you were to leave without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police found you they may bring you back home, because you mentioned abuse they may do an investigation before sending you back. You could try and talk with your friends or family members about allowing you to stay with them.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

hi um im 11 im going to be 12 in may i'm stuck in a bad situation . I'm home all day and i cant go out due to COVID-19 . Both my parent hate me . And my real dad is abusive . i live with an annoying little brother and he is so annoying he alway's get it his ways . and i have an ESE brother i'm want tom runaway to my god mom please help

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are dealing with a lot right now, and we want you to know that you are not alone.
Being stuck at home especially with the COVID19 virus going on can be really overwhealming. You do not deserve to be abused, and we are sorry that you are going through that.
You do have the right to make an abuse report and you can do that a few ways. One option would be to call Child Help at: 1800-422-4453, and they would be able to help you make a report. You can also try telling an adult you trust and they would be able to help you with making an abuse report. If you are ever in immediate danger please call the police.
We are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws. If you were to run away, your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If he police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. You could try some coping skills such as doing something you enjoy, or writing in a journal about how you are feeling.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support to you. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi i am Grace and im 12 years old i will turn 13 in may let me just start out by saying my mother does drugs and hangs out with very bad people but I live with my grandmother I feel very lonley i have wanted to run away for about a year now but i dont know where to go and i have no money i want to run away with another person so i dont get scared my grandmother blames everything on me my brother gets all the attension and could get away with murder if he wanted to but he is only 8 i have already packed my stuff i just need to find someone to leave with and get money and i am waiting for the corona virus to go away wich is not doing to well i wish i could go live with my mom or rich aunt anywhere but here i hate people everytime someone similes at me or laughs it makes me sick anyway please let me know what i should do

Gracie-13-Girl

[ccsmod2]

Hello Gracie,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen.
Wow it sounds like you are dealing with a lot right now, and have had to go through a lot during your life. It sounds like living with your mother may not be the safest option or healthiest environment. If you need resources for coping with your mother’s drug use you can contact SAMHSA (substance abuse and mental health association). They can be reached at 877-726-4727.
As far as running away, we are not legal experts but do have some information. Running away is a big decision and your safety is the top priority. If you were to leave without permission your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. If you need someone to talk to you can always call us or NAMI (national association for mental illnesses) is a good resource. NAMI can be reached at 1800-950-NAMI.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore options please give us a call. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Im 12 and Im thinking about running. My parents are getting a divorce my mom moved out. My dad has a gf but when we were at my moms today my dad was still kissing my mom and all that stuff and now Kyrie (my dads gf) is moving cause if it but I’m not sure if she knew they were kissing all she knew is that they kept disappearing together. It’s all just super confusing and I can’t handle it. My mom has also verbally abused me multiple times and uses me to watch my siblings.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out, it seems like you are going through a stressful and confusing situation and it makes sense to feel overwhelmed by it. That stress doesn’t excuse your mom to verbally abusing you like that though. It seems like having someone to talk to about this and help you work through this confusing time may be helpful. It may be worth talking to a school counselor, or another family member that isn’t directly involved and that you trust about what’s going on.
We are also here to talk if you wanted someone not involved in it at all. Or if you have more questions about your options. You can reach us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or use our online chat at 1800ruanaway.org.

[Guest]

I'm 12 I want to runaway. I've been thinking about it for awhile now. But now with coronavirus I need to wait longer until I could go. I asked all my friends if they wanted to join me they all refused. I'm adopted and I have no idea why I got put up for adoption. Was I not good enough? Am I not good enough? I'm pretty sure people will hate me more when they find out I'm non-binary and pansexual. They adopted me because my brother's wanted a sister. They didn't get one. But they don't know because I'm stuck in the closet. I plan to runaway after coronavirus. What should I do just now though?

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 12 and have severe depression. I have a stepdad and four stepbrothers. One of my brother's age 7, is really entitled and often got what he wanted because he was young. This makes me mad because he would curse and my parents wouldn't care. I have so many fake friends I still hang out with because I have been a loner before and hated it. I would get bullied a lot but learned to stand up for myself which gave me the role of "Wanting to fight every kid in middle school". Which I didn't. So I became a target for fights and all and that's how I got my "Popularity". I didn't like it. At home my step-dad and my mom fight constantly and for some reason, I get roped in every time. Not to mention my dad blames me for every fight they have. Since I was about 4 I have experienced fights all the time to the point My mom, My brothers and I go to a hotel or a family's house for a few weeks although I wish it was permanent. The real friends I have encourage me to not cut myself and make me feel better! But now I don't have them due to schools closing down. I feel alone and there have been countless times that I have packed and have gotten ready to run away but I haven't. I don't know what to do and I feel I am drowning in darkness with no way out. I have to fake smile and put on a "Happy mask" Around my brothers to lift their spirits up during hard times. Even if I wanna cry too, I force it to stay in so I can comfort mt younger brothers which leaves me breaking down because I have held my emotions in for too long. I still break down and often lock myself in my bathroom so no one sees me cry. I still want to run away but I know I won't survive out there and this makes things worse for me. I wish that me nor countless kids and teens have to experience this. Thank you for reading my story. I hope things get well for everyone else. But I don't think I will.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS, it seems like you are going through a lot and it is only being made harder by the Shelter in Place orders. School seems like a difficult place before it got cancelled since you had to be ready to fight or give a fake smile. It’s understandably difficult to live that way especially if you are helping to try and keep your brother’s spirits up. Your parents shouldn’t be blaming you for their own fights, and should be trying to create an environment for you and your brothers to grow up safe and secure. It’s hard to keep bottling up your emotions through all that and it makes sense to try and find a way to make things better.
Cutting, or self-harming may give temporary relief but we want you to be as safe as possible even from pain you do to yourself. We recommend https://twloha.com/ for resources regarding self-harm and finding a supportive community.
We also would recommend finding someone who you can talk to about these feelings. You mentioned bottling up your feelings and wearing a happy mask, having someone you don’t need to pretend around at all can be a big load off your shoulders. A therapist or school counselor would be good professional options you can look into. School may not be in session but your counselor might have an email address you can contact to see if they might be willing to help or have ideas. If you need help finding a therapist or are concerned about your family affording one we also have counseling resources we can look for if you call our hotline that are on a sliding scale or free.
It may also be worth reading up on depression if you feel you have it so you can more effectively deal with the symptoms. Nami.org is a good resource for exploring those things. Again we hope that these resources are helpful. Nobody should go through those feelings without support, and we hope you can get it. If you need someone to talk to or want help finding some resources please call our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or use our online chat. Both are available 24/7 every day.

[Guest]

hi im 12 and I will turn 13 in September , I want to runaway cause I can't handle anymore my parents , they always compare me to other child , put a lot of pressure in me and stuff like that I want to move to canada ( its the only country that is really far from my country ) the problem is that I have family there and they will certainly tell my parents and also im cutting myself every night to make me sleep please help me .

[ccsmod15]

We really appreciate you reaching out to us. It's totally unfair that you are being compared to other children. That sounds very frustrating. It makes sense that you might want to get away.

From your IP address it seems that you are contacting us from outside the United States. Unfortunately, we aren't acquainted with international laws involving youth and it's probably best to seek answers and help from local resources. Here is a website that you may want to explore to find help closer to home: https://www.childhelplineinternational.org/.

We are concerned, however, when you mention cutting. Here's a great website that talks about cutting and how you can be safe: www.twloha.org.

Hopefully this information helps. We hope you can find the support you need, either through the resources above or through other adults in your life that you trust: perhaps a teacher, school counselor, religious leader, relative, or someone else. Please be safe.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I've been bullied by mean kids and friends and I wanted to run away. Before that me and my sister were living with my dad and we wanted to go see our mom. My mom was living with someone else and we wanted to see her so at night we packed clothes and money then we tried to Hitch a ride and someone stopped then we called our mom she got us and we were in big trouble.

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us today and explaining a bit about your situation. We are always here to help in any way we are able to. Don’t hesitate to reach out and call or chat with us more.

You don’t deserve to be bullied, that’s not right at all. If you’re able to talk to a teacher about who is bullying you, it may help. You mentioned that you tried to run away to see your mom. If you’re thinking about leaving home again, give us a call. We want to make sure you stay safe. If you want help talking to your parents about being bullied or wanting to see them, we can help you with that too. We have conference calling so we can all talk together.

We are always here to listen to you, you don’t have to go through this alone. If talking about what you’re going through helps the most than that is what we will be here for! Again, thanks for reaching out to us today. If you would like us to look for those resources or want to talk more about what you’re going through, we’re here. Our safeline is open 24/7.

Best, NRS

[Guest]

Im 12 and im running away tonight where should i go

[ccsmod5]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us today. We are always here to help in any way we are able to. Don’t hesitate to reach out and call or chat with us.

It sounds like your home situation has gotten really bad if you’re thinking about running away tonight, even with COVID going on. Please call or chat with us on our website www.1800runaway.org . We will try to help you stay safe if you do decide to run away because it is dangerous. We can also look to see if there’s runaway shelters in your area, for you to stay at.

We are always here to listen to you, you don’t have to go through this alone. If talking about what you’re going through helps the most than that is what we will be here for! Again, thanks for reaching out to us today. If you would like us to look for those resources or want to talk more about what you’re going through, we’re here. Our safeline is open 24/7.

Best, NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away too. I am writing this unregistered for fear of my mom discovering me. I am aged 12 and my mom abuses me mentally and sometimes slaps me around for pretty small things. She calls me an ungrateful b!tch and a useless bloody f*cker AT BEST Why? Because I played Minecraft for too long. Probably I deserve a telling off but not this f*cking abuse. Note: This is translated from Chinese, I’m Chinese. Is there a sure-fire way of making running away work? What is the best way to prepare? I would be grateful to know.
Thanks
- Rather not say -

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out. That sounds really hurtful that your mom says those things to you and it makes sense that you are needing a change.

Based on your post, it is hard to tell if you are currently located in the U.S. We do not want to give you misleading/incorrect information about your possible options if you are outside of the U.S. Here is where you can find your local Child Help Holtine: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

If we are mistaken, and you are located in the U.S., we are truly sorry about the confusion. Please do not hesitate to call or chat us to go over your options and your plan for running. Here at NRS, we are nonjudgemental, nondirective, and primarily concerned about your safety. 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

hello I'm 12 and I want to run away

I battle with severe anxiety, depression, panic attacks, my father always tell me I'm overreacting about everything when I really worry about him. My mother also deals with this and it's like they don't care about me. They want to move after I have been staying here in the place where I live since I was born. I told them that I have a life and they don't want to leave because I have friends here. they said that they don't care what I want they are going to move anyway. I was told by my dad I wasn't good enough for him this is where I decided I want to run away. They yell and scream at me because I do one thing wrong, I get verbally abused and I'm scared of being in the house I live in because of my father. He makes it so bad that I don't want to just run away but I also want to die. But it's getting to a point where I don't want to talk to them or have anything to do with them. I don't feel loved or cared anymore and all they care about is themselves and they're doing everything for themselves. It gives me that much anxiety I can't concentrate on doing my school work. It has gotten worse because of quarantine and I just need help.

please help!

[ccsmod0]

Hey 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.
You mentioned experiencing emotional abuse which may be reportable against your mom and dad. Please keep in mind you by no means deserve any type of abuse, emotional or otherwise. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often harder to provide evidence for compared to physical abuse which is often what CPS relies on when conducting an abuse investigation. That said, we can’t be 100% sure what the outcome will be if your local CPS decides to open a case based on what you share. Sometimes CPS decides to remove minors from the home and other times they offer services such as family counseling or mediation instead. The only way to know the outcome might be to reach out to them directly and if you’re ready to do that we are here to help you through that process. Reaching out to Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org may help to get a better understanding of what may happen before and after a report is made.

We hope this helps. Please reach out if we can offer any further support.

Be safe,
NRS

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

What is the easiest way to kill yourself, I'm Suicidal.(painless death plz)

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things right now and 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[/url is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services. If you would like us to call police for emergency services on your behalf, you can reach out to our hotline 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. Your safety is very important and we are here to listen.

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.

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).

We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe and stay strong,
NRS