Calling CPS on my parents..?

[Guest]

hi.
im a 15 year old girl that has a 9 year old sister,my mom lives in France because of visa problems but my dad is of course living with us and taking care of us. my dad sometimes hits my sister and I to the point where we’re scared of him even lifting a hand,he’s very verbally abusive with me and calls me horrible names that make me cry and want to hurt myself or even worse. I’ve been tempted to call CPS a couple of times but I don’t want to be taken away from my sister. my dad apologizes and stuff but I don’t believe him anymore , it’s happened too many times
i need advice. Please help.

[ccsmod0]

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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. 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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

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.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i am a 16 year old nonbinary kids who lives in texas. i believe my parents have been abusing me my entire life, unintentionally however because their parents were abusive too, thus my parents dont know how to parent. ever since i was little my parents would spank me for getting lower than an A on any grade, and if my mom was super mad she would grab me and hit me several times and then proceed to yell at me. she also threatened to “pull my pants down and spank me in public”. as i got older they stopped hitting me frequently, but sometimes if they get really made they slap me. their expectations of my school work have driven me to tears because i got a B on a daily assignment. they dont enforce grades as much as they did before but they still get on my case a lot about grades. even when i ask my dad for help after he offers and then tell him i dont understand after he explains something to me, he gets irrationally angry and starts yelling.

the main thing is the fact that i have friends online. ive been online since seventh grade, im a junior now, and they found out about my friends late sophomore year. they took away all my electronics and basically isolated me from the people i cared about. i know theres stigma around online friends but i can confirm the people i consider my found family are quite real. i am quite aware on how to spot a pedophile from miles away, as i dealt with cosca for three years with a man who turns 20 this november. anyway, when my parents found out about them they took away my phone, laptop, and school issued ipad. they told me that because i had online friends my grades were low and they told me that i was “emotionally stunted” because i never learned to socialize with real people, even thought i have friends at school. my parents kept all my technology for about a month, and during this time i sought out an alternate piece of technology, which a close family friend gave to me without question. my sister (12) caught me on it, but i told her not to tell, but she ratted on me anyway. this resulted in my parents going absolutely ballistic, and they tore apart my room to try to find the phone. when i told my mom i wasnt going to give her the phone she grabbed me by the hair and hit my until i pushed her away and ran to the guest room. she followed me and kept yelling and interrogating me until i just started scream-crying. eventually i gave up the phone and they made me sleep on the floor in their bedroom. the day after this they acted like everything was normal while i was entirely on edge and scared. i dont know if this was a proper reaction on their part, i guess i had lied to them for several years, but i just dont know. then fast forward a month, my parents give me technology back, and promptly install screen time on it. my mom demands me to give her the password to my phone so she can check my phone when she wants. through all of this, ive kept in contact with all my friends, online and irl, as best as i could, using methods id rather not say in case my parents somehow find this post and take those away too.

once school started, i got tired of screen time and decide to use money i got for my birthday to buy a burner phone for myself. this only lasts me a week, because im stupid and let myself get caught by my mom. i told them that i had bought it myself and had it shipped to me. my mom threw the phone at me, picked it up and threw it again, and then grabbed a hammer and tried to smash it on the counter. there is still a dent in the granite now. i dont know how it escalated but my dad ended up forcing me into the car and driving me to a local mental hospital, yelling at me the whole time about how i “had a problem” and “didnt care about the family” and how im “selfish and dont think about the consequences of my actions”. i mean, i guess sometimes im impulsive, but i have adhd so its difficult for me to do that. my dad kept calling me names too like “piece of ********” or calling me “full of ********”. he ended up taking me back home after thoroughly threatening me and telling me he “didnt want to make me go to the hospital” and when i stayed silent he told me that if i had the fact that i went to the hospital on record it would be bad for my future. when we got home my mom was ready with a drug test, which was a urine sample, and my dad stood in bathroom while i did it, which was humiliating. throughout all this ive been dissociating and trying to remove myself from the situation. my mom called me a “social deviant” and a bunch of other names. i dont remember a lot of that night, but i vividly remember them telling me we were “having a mature conversation” and then they would yell and curse and threaten and call me names. i was hugging my plushie and at one point my mom ripped it out of my hands and cut it up with scissors even though i asked her to stop a bunch of times. eventually they let me go to bed around 12 am and i had to sleep on the couch in our living room. my mom would periodically just come and stand by where i was and just stare at me while breathing heavily. i was pretending to sleep while she did this. i didnt get that much sleep that night.

the next messed up thing i remember my parents doing is after i had a therapy session and my mom found out i told my therapist she hit me. she got really angry and told me i shouldnt think of her as my mother anymore and made me feel guilty for telling someone that she hit me. my parents finally gave me my technology after a fight and my mom shouting “i give up” and “youre hopeless” and throwing all my technology at me. things were fine for a while i guess. i was still scared around them and i still am now. right now they believe i am not online.

over winter break they turned on screen time without saying anything, which upset me and my mom and i nearly got into a screaming match in public so i decided to take a walk while she called my dad to complain about me. she got really mad and called me several times because i ignored the first few because i was angry. she told me i embarrassed her in public and that made her look bad. after that we went home and ignored each other and didnt mention it.

then, most recently, i got upset because my mom agreed with my doctor that my entire family was “walking on eggshells” around me. (my doctor is a family friend who i cannot confide in because she might tell my mom. she has only heard my moms side of the story). my mom told me that if she says anything i will get upset, which isnt true because i only get upset when she says rude and untrue things. she went to bed mad and then the next day when she got in the car to take me somewhere she just started yelling and criticizing me. at one point she said “why are we doing this” and just stopped in the middle of the road, and then got even more mad when i answered “i dont know” and kept driving. then when a care pulled out in front of us to exit a neighborhood she didnt even try to stop the car. we could have crashed. when we finally got to the place where i do my extracurricular activity, she dropped me off and left even though i had my equipment in the car. i called my dad because he was actually being level headed and told him what was happening and he called my mom and talked to her. i dont know what he said but my mom ended up coming back, giving me my stuff, yelling at me, told me that she was “running away, buts not like you care” and then when she turned to leave she told me she hoped i would be happy living without her. my dad had to pick me up and take me home. later that day my dad attempted to mediate a conversation between us but i got really upset. i think it may have been my bottled up anger finally overflowing because i screamed a lot through tears. my dad had ended up taking my moms side because she said i “didnt take initiative and didnt respect her”. its like nothing i do is good enough i guess. my mom got irritated and said “so youre allowed to lash out and im not?” and i got really mad and screamed “I AM 16 AND YOURE ALMOST 50, YOURE THE PARENT NOT ME” i dont know if that was the right thing to do but its over and done with now. i stormed off after that and stayed in my room and my parents didnt bother me. i ended up having to contact the suicide hotline. my mom later came up and apologized but it just didnt seem like enough.

now my parents have turned off all my data, have turned on screen time for me, ******** talk me in their text messages, use the camera in the house to spy on me, and take away random things like the xbox controllers because my mom gets irrationally suspicious. im not sure what to do. my parents are nice too sometimes and put me on meds because ive tried to kill myself several times. they tell me they care about me and feed me and buy me nice things so im just really conflicted. my parents treat my sister like this sometimes but i get the brunt of this. i dont know what im going to do if i call cps because if i am kept in this living situation and we get family therapy it wont help, weve tried it before. i dont know if theyll take my sister from our house either. i just dont know what to do and im really scared. the thing is i dont want to fix things with my parents because i think our relationship is hopeless. but if im removed from my honme they probably wont support me for college or anything like that. i dont know what kind of support cps provides but i just dont want my opportunities to vanish because i report my parents to cps. and if they close an investigation after they tell my parents i reported them everything will get so much worse. please help me.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway safeline, we are here to help and here to listen.
Wow it seems like you are going through a really difficult time right now. You have mentioned being abused, which is not acceptable and we are sorry that you are dealing with all of that. You do have the right to file an abuse report you can do this by calling Child help at : 1800-422-4453. Another option would be to speak with a school counselor about what has been going on because they are mandated reporters they would make an abuse report.
You also mentioned getting all your electronics taken away, which seems difficult if that is how you communicate with your friends. It does seem like you are determined to keep in contact with your friends online and in real life which makes you seems like a really good friend.
It seems like a lot of their punishment is really scary, especially cutting up your plushie and hammering your phone. You may consider talking to a therapist about all of this because it can be really difficult to deal with this alone. One resource that may be helpful to you is called NAMI (national alliance for mental illnesses). They can be reached at 1800-950-NAMI.
Also it may be good to confide in a friend or trusted adult about everything that has been going on at home. Sometimes it is great to have support from family members or friends.
With a lot going on sometimes it may be helpful to call us so we can better assist you. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. We want you to know that you are not alone and someone is always willing to listen. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I am an 18 year old female and dealt with the emotional and mental abuse of my mother for about 5 years now causing me to suffer from multiple mental health problems and more than a handful of suicide attempts and hospital stays. i’ve reported my mother to the police multiple times but nothing ever happened so i let it go. Now my 15 year old sister is going through the same mental abuse and it is drastically affecting her mental health and overall happiness. Today my mother printed out a letter of my sisters school honours list and named every kids name followed with “this kid is better than you” and calling her a failure. it’s gotten to the point where everyday is a screaming war in my house and me and my sister don’t know what to do and need help with this. my mother has been forced to take parenting classes in the past from my social worker since both my sister and i were adopted. but they didn’t seem to help. i was wondering what the best thing to do is. i recently got a good paying job so if i were to get an apartment would she be able to move in with me as she’s turning 16 this month? should we call CPS and get them involved? or should we just leave and move in with other family members?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are so sorry about your mom’s apparent pattern of inappropriate and abusive behavior towards you and your siblings. What you described her doing to your younger sister was incredibly and unnecessarily mean and awful. It is great, however, that you are understanding of your sister’s situation and can be supportive of her through these really painful experiences.

While we’re not legal experts we do have a great deal of experience working with runaways. So, unfortunately because your sister is a minor, your mother has the right to determine where she lives. If she were to run away, your mother could file a runaway report with the police. This wouldn’t mean your sister would get in any legal trouble or get arrested, it just means that if the police found her, they could notify her guardian and then return her home. Additionally, your mother would have the option to try and press charges against you for harboring a runaway. While that risk does exist, successfully pursuing those charges is typically pretty difficult. You might want to reach out to your local police non-emergency number and ask them what their procedures for and experiences with harboring charges are in order to get a more precise understanding of how things work where you’re at. Another option could be trying to take custody of your sister from your mom. To be honest, we’re not so familiar with those kinds of processes but we would be happy to put you in touch with some legal advocacy that might be able to answer any questions you have about that.

If you are interested in talking more about what’s going on or seeing what other options there may be, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Ok I have to make this quick but I’m 15 and live in Seatac Washington. And my moms abusive verbally, mentally and sexually. I have video proof of her drunk and screaming at me and getting in my personal space and making e feel unsafe. And well my dad left us 14 years ago and I don’t trust him. To take care of me. Am I able to live with a family friend. Also to note. I have called the police they just told me my mom could force me to be sheltered and be escorted to school and all this ********. Basically giving her 100 percent control on EVERYTHING I DO. And if I wanted to do something about it I could get emancipated. But I can’t cause I haven’t been to school in 4-5 months cause she neglected me and I haven’t been able to do things like get out of bed for a long time. Noted she doesn’t know this . Man what do I do. Im screwed in so many ways and I just wanna be safe .

[ccsmod0]

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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. 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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
We are so sorry to hear that you have experienced sexual violence. You do not deserve to have this happen to you, and you deserve to be believed and supported. One really great resource for all survivors of sexual assault or abuse is RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network). You can call them any time 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673, or go to www.rainn.org to use their online hotline. RAINN is the National Sexual Assault Hotline and has a lot of services, support and resources that you may find helpful. You can also call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) if you need to talk.
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.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

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[Guest]

I am an 11 year old boy. i got introuble and my mom took me down into a position where my mouth was covered and i could barely breathe. From there she took me into a choke hold. My whole life has been like this. I also recently got "beat" with a belt that left 3 "visible" scars on me. Another time she picked me up by the shirt leaving a HUGE scar on my chest it is smaller now but this was only about 4 years ago. I remember another time She literally choked me. FOR NO REASON. I have been raised smart my whole life. that caused me to have alot of "disorders i hide alot" for example i have mild depression and anxiety and i have sever anger issues. she holds me to very high expectations and that triggers my emotions because I cant be a normal kid. the voices in my head have been getting louder the past couple of weeks and more. Nonetheless i am struggling with my sexuality and that makes issues worse also.I live in LAKE ELSINORE I NEED TO GET AWAY It is just going to get worse. I WANT TO GO TO MY DAD'S in Sand Diego but I am afraid my dad will agree with my mom. I refuse to go to a family members house cause they are all basically the same once im there for a long period of time. I dont have the guts to call cps but I REALLY WANT TO GET AWAY i want to get away so bad its to the point i have wanting to hurt myself. please help. what do i do. someone come get me. please.

[ccsmod3]

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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. 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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
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 want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already. It is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. You’re bravery and resilience is so admirable. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY or our live chat service. The LGBT National Hotline at 1888-843-4564 is another option to gain great support from those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can access their website link bellow to utilize all the other possibly useful resources they have to offer: http://www.glbthotline.org/

You mentioned that you were considering the options that may be best for you. By all means, if you do fear for your safety either now or in the future, do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to regain your safety. This may mean calling the authorities or possibly reporting the things you may be experiencing. Other options to think about may be other family members, friends, or a trusted adults that would be able to provide you with support or a safe place to stay. It is great that you thinking ahead. Should you feel like leaving home is best, it may be a good idea to think about how you will provide necessities for yourself such as food, clothing, showers, healthcare and other basic needs. You may want to also consider how your parent’s will react to you leaving without permission. We are not legal experts here, but typically as a minor (under the age of 1 you need permission from your parents to leave home. It is not illegal to runaway, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report with the police. This is usually done in an effort to try to return you home as the police are required to do so.

If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out through Live Chat we can try to find some youth shelters that may be near your city and state by utilizing our database of resources. We can also try to call out to shelters with you or on your behalf to advocate for you. Best of luck.

[Guest]

I am 16 years old and I live with my mom and little sister. I take care of her most of the days while my mom just sleeps. She makes me wash dishes, clothes, clean, and sh won't do nothing. I'm sick and tired of her all she does is scream and hit us. My little sister is traumatized. I NEED HELP NOW!

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. It was very brave of you to share a bit about your situation and ask for help. It sounds like your mom has placed her responsibilities as a parent on to you which is a lot to take on. It is really unfair that you have to act as the adult of the household. You deserve to be getting help and support during this challenging situation.

You do have the option of making a report to child protective services. We know this can be scary decision to make but you do not have to do it alone. The goal of CPS is generally to provide the needed services and support to ensure you and your little sister are safe and taken care of. If you would like to learn more about the reporting process or would like some help with making the report you can speak to an advocate at Child Help, 1-800-422-4453 childhelp.org.

Having a support system is really important. It would be a helpful step to reach out to friends, family members, religious leader, or a school counselor for additional support and a safe place to talk as you take your next steps.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

-NRS

[Guest]

Hi, im 15 and I just moved in with my dad ( not biologically but he raised me) and my step mom. Before I was living with my mom and step dad and they would beat me and choke me and throw stuff at me, slap me, tell me I ruin everything, call me negative names all that. My mom didn’t want me to move with my dad because once when I was 11 him and my step mom got me drunk. But ever since I’ve been living with them it’s a constant battle. My step mom loves to remind me that my bio mom doesn’t love me or care ab me. Im biracial and she would constantly call me the n work and tell me to pick Cotten and think it was funny. I have the responsibility of cleaning our entire house every day and these people are VERY MESSY. It gets very exhausting because my step mom doesn’t work or do anything and does cook for me only for her and my dad and sister. I tried to talk to my dad but he said some really hurtful things that lead to me having an anxiety attack. They called the police on me and then after that they’ve been calling me a disappointment and and embarrassment. I’ve already been hospitalized for suicide attempt. My step mom and dad always try to get me to drink and smoke with them. I hate it here but the only other place I have to stay is my boyfriends and they wouldn’t let that happen.Living here really suck and makes me hate life but my boyfriend and his family are very supportive. I am tired of this. I really need help.

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS,
It seems like you have been through a lot of abuse recently and you are sick of it. You don’t deserve to be treated that way by either set of parents. Physical abuse like you described is not OK, but neither is the emotional and verbal abuse you’ve been through with your dad and step-mom. Much less the attempts to make you partake in drugs and alcohol. These are not OK ways to treat you and you deserve a safe place to call home.
Child abuse reporting is an option for you from how you describe the situation. Child/Family Services is there to try and protect you and help to make the situation better. Emotional/Verbal abuse can be harder to prove in the case of where you currently live. So if you have recordings of your mom calling you the n word and coercing you to drink that could be helpful. If that isn’t possible we recommend starting a journal where you document dates and actions that could be considered abuse so that you have specific events recorded you can point to if an investigation starts. For more information about child abuse and reporting https://www.childhelp.org/ is a great resource for finding out what your options are and the possible results of reporting.
We are also here to listen to the full story and discuss other options for you to cope or safe places you might be able to go. We can also assist in reporting the abuse on your behalf as well. We are here to listen and sometimes that can be helpful to get everything off your chest as well. You deserve to be listened to and supported and we hope that this can be the start of healing and improvement for you. Our 24/7 hotline can be reached at 1-800-786-2929 or you can chat with us 24/7 as well at 1800ruanway.org.
We wish you good luck and hope to hear from you again soon,
NRS.

[Guest]

I live with my parents, grandma and two younger sisters. I absolutely hate it when my parents fight. Its almost always about money, about my dad spending all his paycheck on who knows what. He also take money away from my grandma, and rarely pays her back. He

[ccsmod0]

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 with your parents. 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

[Guest]

I'm a 16 year old female. My days consist of being berated, hit, and verbal, mental, as well as psychological abuse. I have other siblings but they do not suffer, I'm the black sheep of this family. I began self harming through cutting in 2018, at 13 years old. There were some "off times" where I resorted to hitting or biting myself due to not having access to blades, however I have started cutting once again with countless blades and a utility knife. I have suicidal ideation everyday, and have attempted suicide multiple (secret) times, but I have come to the conclusion that I will not kill myself due to my devotion to God, no matter how much I want to. Alas, I still engage in self injury and mutilation and I aim for the brink of death, but not quite death in itself.

I've expressed my wish to commit suicide only two times before, both at 12-13 years old, begging my parents on my knees to love me and understand me.
"Do it." was the reply. They thought I wouldn't.

This issue is only with my parents. My extended family, primarily on my mother's side, love and cherish me. Unfortunately, they're across the world in a different country, and I've seen them only once in 7 years.

The reason I have never reported anything is because I always held on to the hope that when I woke up one day, we'll all get along well. My parents would ask how my day is going then I'd sit down at dinner for a meal with my family; laughing together. That I wouldn't be told to go to hell, that I wouldn't be cursed at and hit when trying to explain myself. That my bitter days would be left in the past.

Another reason I'm afraid to report is due to my religion. No, it's not my religion that's holding me back, but people's misconceptions. I love my God, as you know now, the reason why I won't end my life. Religion plays no part in this, I'm not forced to do anything that has anything to do with belief, but what will people think when they see a girl like me? I don't fit the mold.

I've woken up from my delusion now. I'm the villain of my family, no matter what I do. I would run away, but I live in a bad area and I'm sure I'd show up dead. Even after anything, I want my family to live pleasantly without me. I don't want this to be something that weighs on their mind, that I'm such a burden, and for this to darken their days. But I'm sure their quality of life will be better without me, so I guess it's quite inevitable.


I apologize for my ramble. I'm not sure if the reply to this will be one made by a person, but if it is, thank you for reading what no one else has heard.

[Guest]

This is the 16 year old female again, I wanted to add something:


(EDIT: I've never been diagnosed for depression. I'm not sure that I deserve that. I took a PHQ-9 questionnaire on September 10, 2019 and had a 17/27 and was told "that moderately severe clinical depression is likely". I've become worse since then so I'll retake it and see what the score has become.)

[Guest]

I retook it:

26 points


Scores 20 and greater suggest severe depression; patients typically should have immediate initiation of pharmacotherapy and expedited referral to mental health specialist.

Functionally, the patient finds it is “extremely difficult” to perform life tasks due to their symptoms.

WARNING: This patient is having thoughts concerning for suicidal ideation or self-harm, and should be probed further, referred, or transferred for emergency psychiatric evaluation as clinically appropriate and depending on clinician overall risk assessment.


Gosh, I'm so sorry for derailing this thread. Please feel free to leave my additional comments out! It's just for some background info.

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thank you ever so much for reaching out to us. We are so sorry to hear that things at home with your parents has become so painful, both emotionally and physically for you. We want you to know that you deserve to live in a space where you feel safe, and it is never ok for anyone to place your safety in jeopardy. Please know that while we cannot tell you what to do, we will do our best to share information that may be helpful.

It sounds like you haven’t felt supported at home with your parents, and you’ve self-injured as well as contemplated suicide. We want you to know that there are organizations, much like ours, that are available if you wish to talk about what you’ve been experiencing. Organizations like The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available by phone at 1.800.273.TALK (8255) and by visiting https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ , are there to provide you support when you’re in a crisis. You’ve mentioned instances where you’ve been hit and been made to feel unsafe at home. You have the right to report anyone that is hurting you to your local child protective services, regardless of your religion. It is not ok for anyone to hurt you or make you feel unsafe. Know that organizations like Child Help, available by phone at 1.800.422.4453 as well as at https://www.childhelp.org/ can help you identify your local child protective services office if you feel comfortable making an abuse report. You also discussed concerns that you may be depressed. It is really great that you’ve been so proactive to check in on yourself by trying some self-assessments online, and we would encourage you to explore whether there are mental health resources in your area that can support your efforts to find out whether you are clinically depressed. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), available by phone at 1.800.950.6264, by texting NAMI to 741741, or visiting them online at https://www.nami.org/Home , can help support you as you explore ways to take care of your mental health. Much like us at the National Runaway Safeline, these organizations are here to support you. Please know that you are not alone.

Whatever you decide, we will do our best to support you and help you stay safe. You are welcome to reach out to us if you need help identifying resources that can support you, or if you are in a crisis and need someone to talk to. We’re here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS

[Guest]

I'm worried about the safety of my siblings. I have four siblings, the middle three are adopted, the littlest is my only biological sister. The middle and adopted three are 2 boys, 11 and 13, and a girl, 8. I am the oldest and my parents are biologically mine. The three middle sibling are mistreated by my mom almost on a daily basis. She'll get mad at them for no good reason. Ex: playing an educational school game they are required to play by a teacher. She slapped both of my brothers across the faces and left them both in tears when this happened. Often times my 11 year old brother, who is emotionally sensitive, will begin trembling, crying, and has trouble breathing like he will pass out when my mom treats him this way. My mom has pinned down my 8 year old sister and beat her up over a lie she told. The sad thing is that my mom treats her biological children, my littlest sister and I perfectly fine. I'm worried that her treatment of my adopted siblings is becoming dangerous to them. Them getting slapped, punched, choked, and shoved is a normal thing, though not quite daily. My dad is mostly kind to them but sometimes will lose his temper at them. He is at work a lot though. I just am not sure who I can talk to this about who won't tell my mom I have done so.

[ccsmod15]

Hello,
Thanks for reaching out to us. We are so sorry to hear that your siblings have had such a tough time with your mom. It sounds like you have been concerned about your siblings for some time, and you have questions about who to report to anonymously. It is never ok for anyone to make your siblings unsafe, and it sounds like they have a good source of support with you.

You have the option of filing an abuse report with your local child abuse organization, and you can discuss your concerns about being identified with the person taking the report. Being anonymous when you report does not make the report any les valid. When anyone makes a report, the most important factor is to make sure you are able to provide as much detailed information as possible about the incidences of abuse that you have observed. Organizations like Child Help can help you identify the child protective services organization near you if you feel comfortable reaching out to them directly. They can be reached at 1-800-422-4453, or by visiting their website at https://www.childhelp.org/ . You can also reach out to us if you want to talk about what’s been going on. We can also help you file the report if you would like our support in doing so.

Please know that we are here to support you. We cannot tell you what to do, but we can do our best to share resources that can support you in figuring out the next steps you can take to help your siblings stay safe. You can reach us 24/7 by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), or via chat by visiting our website at https://www.1800runaway.org/ . We are here for you. Stay safe!
-NRS

[Guest]

I'm a 14 year old girl turning 15 on January 1st, I've lived with bulling ever since I started school. Recently the best family I had Died due to brain cancer that could not be operated on. This summer I was diagnosed with severe depression and i'm on 50 mgs of anti-depressents they don't help. I have two cats who help calm me down when I'm emotionally struggling. My parents have two children, me and my sister who is 5. I've been told everything is my fault and It's just mentally busing me I get called names by my mother and my father likes to tease me which does hurt me. I've gotten to the point where I planned my suicide several times but I don't due it because of my boyfriend. I've been with him for almost 3 years now and he helps me but, once I go to that place of denial I can't get out of it. I don't know what to do at this point, I think suicide is the option but it isn't. Do I call CPS and make a report does this count as child in dangerment? Most of the things I have my parents bought would I be able to keep them or not? I really don't want to loose contact with my boyfriend. Please help me in this situation.

[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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. 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.

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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

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

[Guest]

Hi there I'm a 27 year mother with two kids. I have a mother in law who treats me like ********. She calls me names like **********, stupid, and a ********ing moron. She acts like I'm stupid. Not only that she smiles in her room where the boys like to go in and talk to her. I dont think she realizes that she is causing secondhand smoke. She claims that she is worried about their health but I'm most certainly am.

When my mother was pregnant with me she smoked that's how I know about my health problems. But my kids health is my concern. I need to know what I can do to help my kids get away from their grandmother who lives with me and my fiance. I need help

[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 did. It sounds like you're in a tough spot and trying to find the best way to let your mom that you're no longer interested in living with her. Because you're legally an adult, making that step is entirely up to you. It's definitely understandable to be concerned about your children's health if they're being exposed to secondhand smoke. Communicating with your mom about how you're feeling might be a good starting point, perhaps even directly asking her if she can avoid smoking in your home. If you're in a space where you firmly no longer want to live with her and she refuses to leave, it might be a good idea to look up your state's information on evictions. Many times if you live somewhere colder, you cannot legally evict someone during the winter months. If you have a lease, it's also a good idea to review it and have an understanding of who is on the lease. If both of you are, unfortunately you won't be able to just kick your mom out. The lease is a binding agreement that both of you signed. Another option might be for you, your fiancé, and your children to move. Either way, it sounds like communicating with your mom might be a really good starting point for you to determine next steps.

Good luck.

NRS