I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

I’m 12 and want to run away there’s nothing wrong in my life that’s the weird thing to everyone else my family seems perfect then there’s me I’m like the ugly duckling of my family there all always happy while I have to go to therapy for depression and now that I’m becoming a teen I’m always mad at everyone so I just feel like if I run away then everyone would be better off cause I’m always cause my family money, pain, and just all together stress so I feel like if I run away then there life’s could be better since I was adopted to I want to run away to an orphanage where I belong where no one has to worry for me.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and really appreciation you sharing a little bit about how you are feeling and what your life looks like right now. Your feelings are understanding, but it is your parent’s responsibility to worry and take care of you. That is what it means to be a part of being a family. You are valuable and deserve to be treated that way. It seems like going to therapy is a positive step and someone to help express what is going on internally. It could be a possibility to see how your therapist could support you in talking with your parents about how you feel. It can be difficult to know how to talk to your parents and express you’re feeling about how you are feeling. At NRS, we do offer a service call conference calling, where you can call into our hotline and then we would reach out to your guardian and help advocate for you, help you express the needs of to your parents.

It sounds like running away is something you have thought about running away. We aren’t legal experts, but we have general knowledge about running away. In most states, running away isn’t illegal, but what is called a status offense. You can’t get arrested for it but it will mostly likely go on your record until you are 18. The police will only know if you have runaway if your parents/guardians file a police report. We can’t say for sure how the police will respond, but we hear a lot that police will take potential places you might be and will actively search for you. If they come across you, the most likely will return you home to your parents. Sometimes we hear that if you are staying with someone who knows you are a runaway and are not actively trying to return you or finding shelter for you, your guardians can press charges against the people who are housing you, with something that is called harboring. One of our main goals is to make sure you are safe, so you ever seriously decide to run away and need shelter, resources, or a safe place to go you can find safe locations at nationalsafeplace.org or reach out to us directly and we can find local resources in your area.

We are here for you and will support you in anyway that we can. Please feel free to call into us directly as we can talk further about your situation and find resources that are best for you in your area. Stay strong and you are not alone in this! Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY we are open 24/7.

We hope this response was helpful! We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/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.

Tell us what you think about your experience!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

-NRS

[Guest]

i am 12 i want to run away

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS!

We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. It’s brave of you to reach out during your time of need. We have a database of resources and if you’re able to call in, we can try to brainstorm with you and get a better idea of your situation. If you need somewhere to stay, while on the run, we can try to find a runaway shelter for you. Unfortunately, we are non-directive at NRS, and can't give out advice, but we're always here to talk and listen.

We’re here if you’d like to talk more about your situation. Our safeline is open 24/7. We also have a chatting service via our website.

Be well, NRS

[Guest]

Hello.
I'm 18 years old and I've been living in Canada for almost my whole life. I'm almost done my last course for highschool and after I'm thinking about going into my military to become a military police or police officer. I live with my dad, Sister and girlfriend. I feel as if I'm doing well for where I am in my life, even though I'm a year behide and that i can actually do somthing in this world that would make me happy and pay good. But for some reason I feel alone. My mother passed away maybe now 6 months from alcohol addiction and I feel it's affecting me the more time passes. Im even starting to think im getting deppressed and starting to get anxiety even though I have a roof over my head, Father, sister, girlfriend and food but I FEEL ALONE. I'm starting to think about running away more and more but here's the biggest fact *i have the money to do it* For me to go to Paris to russian and Tokyo, have enough for flights, hotel, food, activities. should I? Go an adventure by myself? Help myself? Maybe give birth to a new me? Start fresh? RUN AWAY?

[Guest]

I'm about to run and I have to do this!

My life sucks. I want to run away from home since the 2nd grade because of the "father" beating me with a leather belt and the "mother" always yelling at me. I tried it once but I cannot because the "father" was a policeman. How? I sneaked out of the house and then he caught me in the act in midnight. I want to run away but if I did not succeed again I will be put in therapy which was horrible. The "father" sacked me 6 times and almost threw me in the river but didn't get to jail because I was afraid and the part that he is a policeman. I want to live a new life that has freedom. I have very good grades but they lowered down in the upcoming years because of the "mother" looking down on me. I have to do this. I am depressed but not mentally and can't live in this environment. Please help!!!!!!!!!

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I'm about to run and I have to do this!


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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, 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,
NRS

We hope that this information is helpful to you! We’d love to hear what you think about your experience with the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). If you have a moment, please click the link below our signature line to fill out a quick survey.

[Guest]

I am turning 11 and want to run away
My parents are cruel and very stressful and yell at me often because I forget to feed the cats or whatever. One time my mother called me an ungrateful little (s word here). I know a kind 26 year old youtuber who I could possibly run to if I could somehow catch a ride from the USA to England.
I did a depression test and the result was mild depression. I feel tortured inside.

[ccsmod16]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out to us today! It sounds like you are in a really stressful situation at home. We are here to help!

As far as running away, if you leave your home before you are a legal adult (18 in most states) , your parents can let the police know you are gone and if the police find you, they usually take you back home.

Leaving home is a big decision. You might think about where you will go, how you will get food, clothes, medicine if you get sick. How will you get to school or the doctor?

Perhaps talking to another adult about what is going on with your mom may help as it sounds like she gets really upset easily and says really hurtful things that you don’t deserve, like cussing at you. A teacher or school counselor, aunt, uncle or grandparent, or even a neighbor or friend’s parent may be able to help.

Depression is real and can be very powerful. You are not alone in dealing with it! Perhaps contacting a doctor or therapist to get a better idea of what is going on will be more helpful in addition to the online test you took. We can help you find resources near you so call or chat anytime to get those! You can also use the Crisis Text Line 24/7 at 741-741. They are available every day, all day and night and you can talk through some of these really tough emotions and home situation too!

We are also here 24/7 if you want to talk more about your situation. Call us at 1-800-786-2929 or live chat through our website to talk through more options and for more local resources. Best of luck and reach out again! We are here to help!

[Guest]

hi im 12 and i suffer with depression and anxiety i fell in love with this boy that ive been with all my life without my parents knowing and me and him planed to leave out of town without them knowing but i dont care anymore im tired of being and feeling like ******** every morning

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes a great deal of courage to seek help. We are very sorry to hear that you are suffering from depression and anxiety and you want to leave home. It sounds like you plan on leaving town with a boy that you fell in love with it. It seems like you really care about him. Having a plan about where you would go and how you would take care of yourself is important. If you decide to leave town, your parents have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report, if the police find you they would return you home. Running away isn't against the law, but if you decide to stay with a friend they could get charged with harboring a runaway. You could try talking to your parents. Maybe they would allow you to stay with another family member or close friend if you aren't happy at home. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email. or live chat.

We hope this response was helpful! We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/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.

Tell us what you think about your experience!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

NRS

[Guest]

I have been planing to run away from home but i don't know were to go. Please help me

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS!

We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. It’s brave of you to reach out during your time of need. We have a database of resources and if you’re able to call in, we can try to brainstorm with you and get a better idea of your situation. If you need somewhere to stay, while on the run, we can try to find a runaway shelter for you. Unfortunately, we are non-directive at NRS, and can't give out advice, but we're always here to talk and listen.

Our safeline is open 24/7. We also have a chatting service via our website, unfortunately, it is not always open. The best way to contact us would be to call in and talk with our trained liners.

Be well, NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I wanna run away from home...I have serious anxiety and depression and i wanted to commit suicide...my dad called me fat and my mom drinks and my parents fight about the dumbest things...my dad has serious anger issues and uses it against me....I really hope i can stay gone and i need tips on how to stay gone

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes a lot of courage to reach out to help and we want you to know that your life is valuable. If you ever need someone to talk to about your anxiety and depression, don't hesitate to reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. They are there 24/7 to listen and to support.

We are not legal experts, but we can tell you that because you are a minor, if you leave home and your parents file a runaway report, you could be returned home. There could also be legal consequences for whomever you stay with for what is called harboring a run away. If you want a liner to help you walk through other options like having a conference call with a liner and your parents, thinking through possible adults that you could turn to or could advocate for you, or things like emancipation and legal aid numbers, don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Stay safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Im 12 and i want to run away also. Im a normal nerd at school, then when I get home it changes. My dad makes sure to keep it legal so he doesn't go to jail. He makes me sleep on the floor and eat the leftover scraps. Sometimes he gives my brother cool stuff and forces me to watch him have fun with it or eat it. He calls me useless because I'm the only person in our family that was born scrawny. On a few occasions he beats me. When that happens I sleep with his gun hidden under me. I am really smart so I make money selling notes at school. I have $800 collected. I live in a medium sized town with a huge population. What should I do? And do not suggest I contact the police because that doesn't work.

[ccsmod5]

Hey,
Thanks for reaching out. You mention that your dad “makes sure to keep it legal,” however if he is beating you, feeding you scraps, and making you sleep on the floor, this would generally be considered neglectful and abusive. While we are by no means legal experts, it’s simply not okay (and likely not legal) to be treating your child that way. You don’t deserve to be treated that way at all. You mention that you don’t want to get the police involved. Another option is to notify child protective services. For more information on what your options are, what constitutes abuse, and what might happen if you do file an abuse report, you can reach out to the National Child Abuse Hotline. Their number is 1-800-422-4453 and they are confidential. You do not have to give identifying information or make an abuse report if that turns out not to be an option you want to pursue. We also encourage you to reach out to a trusted adult like a teacher or guidance counselor.
If that doesn’t feel like an option, you might consider staying with a friend or another family member. If you have a close family member who is willing to seek custody of you, that might also be an option. Keep in mind that since you are a minor, your dad would have the right to file a runaway report. If the police are able to locate you, they may return you home. If at that point you decide to let them know what’s been going on, they are supposed to investigate that situation.

Thank you again for reaching out. We hope this was helpful and we encourage you to reach out by phone if you need additional resources or need help figuring out your options. Our number is 1-800-786-2929 and our lines are always open. If you have a moment, we'd appreciate your feedback of our crisis services at the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

Stay safe!

[Guest]

Hi I'm 14 and I want to run away and kill myself
my family treat's me like ******** I hate my life I'm fat I get bullied at school and I don't know what to do I can't talk to anyone I don't trust anyone with my feelings .I have server depression , bipolar disorder, anxiety . I'm scared and don't know what to do.

[ccsmod5]

Hi and thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline! It sounds like there’s a lot going on in your life, and we are here to help any way we can.
First, we want you to know that you can trust us here with your feelings. We are confidential here, and we will believe your story. You never have to feel like you can’t trust anyone because we are always here when you need us.
You mention a few mental health struggles. It’s ok to be scared! You’re so brave for acknowledging your struggles and reaching out for help. How do you cope with these feelings of severe depression and anxiety? Are you currently seeing a therapist or counselor? If you contact us, we could explore things that make you feel better and look into any resources we may have in your area that might be able to help.
Living at home can be tough, especially when we have our own personal struggles going on as well. What would need to change at home to make it a better place for you to live? Again, if you call into us at 1-800-RUNAWAY, we could discuss what’s going on and work on a plan together. For example, we have a resource here called the Conference Call. We could get you and your parent on the phone with one of us for a conversation about what’s going on. We would make sure each side is able to say what they want and be heard, without name calling, yelling, etc.
Thanks you again for being brave and trying to find help. We hope to hear from you at 1-800-RUNAWAY if you are comfortable doing so.
Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I wanna run away and im only 11...please help, i get physically hurt when i do the smallest things, my dad doesnt live with me, i dont even know if hes still alive, so he cant help me any... I need advise on what do do! I really want to run and i dont know!

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us for help. I’m sorry to hear about your mom hurting you, no one deserves to be treated like that.

You can call the police and make an abuse report. Childhelp.org can help you make that report if you would like some support while making that call. They can also talk with you if you want someone to talk to. Their number is (1-800) 422-4453. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are feeling unsafe at home and need to leave as soon as possible, you can find a Safe Place in your area to go to get immediate help. Follow this link to find the closest one to you. http://www.nationalsafeplace.org/find-a-safe-place Or you can text them to get the information. Text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357). Within seconds, you will receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number for your local youth agency.

Again, we’re really glad that you reached out to us. It takes a lot to ask for help and you are trying to figure out your options which is really good to see. If you would like to talk further about your situation, please do not hesitate to call or chat with us. We’re here to listen, hear to help.

[Guest]

my parents bang my head against walls and say i'm retarded my mother gets angry when i tell her how i feel and rips up my clothes i'm only twelve and planning to run away with my bike while going to my bus stop.

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re in a really scary situation at home, and that can definitely be a lot to deal with on your own. It sounds like you are going through so much right now with your parents. It is totally unacceptable for them to hit you and yell at you. You don’t deserve to be treated that way by anyone, especially by your parents. We’re going to try and do everything we can to help you out.

You do deserve all the opportunities for happiness. If you feel like getting out of the house is the best option and you decide to run away, we can explain what usually happens. We’re not legal experts, but from our general knowledge, running away is not illegal. If you runaway, your mom can make a runaway report. The police don't always actively look for you, if they come across you, then they usually bring you home. We offer to call out to youth’s local police, with youth, to find out their protocols. We can also look for runaway shelters in your area, that way you have a safe place to stay at.

You do always have the right to make a report with Child Protective Services. Child Help USA is an information and referral line that can connect you with your local CPS abuse hotline. That number is 1-800-422-4453. If you ever felt like making a report or needed help, we are here to assist with that. We understand that making an abuse report can be intimidating so if you like we can call together to provide support.

We do not want to leave you without options because your safety is our number one priority. You can always call us to talk about what you are going through and receive some support. We provide free, confidential, and nonjudgmental services. Everyone deserves to be respected and loved. We hope you get the answers that you want. If you need anything else please do not hesitate to give us a call anytime. 1-800-786-2929
Be safe and good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi im 12 and i want to run away. I really want to. I have depression. I hate living here i always get in trouble and feel like my parents dont love me. I have my whole trip kinda planned out. I know where i want to go. To California. My favorite youtbers live there adn i want a chance to meet them. I just wanna run away. Help

[ccsmod10]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand that it takes courage to seek help.

We are very sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your parents. It sounds like you are thinking about running away. If you decide to runaway, your parents have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report, if the police find you they would return you home. Running away is not illegal so you wouldn't get arrested but, if you were to stay with a friend they could get charged with harboring a runaway. Having a plan about where you would go and how you would take care of yourself is important. We can always try to find you a runaway shelter to stay at, just give us a call.

You could try talking to your parents about how you feel, here at NRS we offer conference calls between youth and their parents. This could be an opportunity for you to express how you feel with the support of an NRS worker. Another option that you have is asking your parents if they would allow you to stay with another family member or close friend for a few days.

We hope our response is helpful. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. You are always welcome to call into our 24/7 crisis center, or use our chatting services via our website. However, the chatting service is not open 24/7. So the best way to tell us everything would be to just call into our hotline and talk to one of our trained liners.

Be safe, NRS