Can I run away from home if being at home affects my mental health?

[ccsmod1]

RE: Can I run away from home if being at home affects my mental health?

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us for help. We are sorry to hear that you are feeling so poorly at home. It sounds like you are dealing with lots of intense negative emotions and feel you might be happier if you run away from home. It sounds very frustrating to feel that nobody listens to you. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can. Having a safe and stable living environment is really helpful to mental health, and it is understandable that you are thinking about leaving home. However, sometimes feelings of anger, loneliness, and unhappiness can sometimes follow even if you leave a bad situation without taking other steps to work on mental health issues, such as going to counseling or therapy, or making sure that your new living situation will be stable and you will be able to provide your needs. Running away is a huge decision, and comes with different kinds of stress than you have at home. 18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian. We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police. What actions the police take once you are filed as a runaway can vary a lot from state to state and even city to city so we cannot predict exactly what would happen in your case. Generally speaking, if you encounter a police officer while reported as a runaway, you will likely be returned home. Another thing to consider is that while running away is not a crime, a legal adult who allows you to stay with them may be putting themselves at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway. A good way to find out the laws in your area is to call your local police and ask what their policies are regarding runaway youth. You can also call us any time 24/7 if you need to talk about your situation. We can help you come up with a plan to stay safe and offer any local resources that might help. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

Lately when I'm at home I feel unhappy, alone, and angry. Is this a good reason to run away since nobody will listen to me when I try talking to them? Please help!