Can i run away at sixteen?

Re: Can i run away at sixteen?

Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to us. It takes a lot to reach out for support but you were brave in doing so. It sounds like you have been going through a lot at home with your parents’ verbal and emotional abuse. You say your dad has stopped but your mother has gotten worse. Not many people know about what is going on but whoever does are encouraging you to stay strong. You have been come overwhelmed and would like to know a way out.
We are sorry that you are going through so much. You mentioned having thoughts about killing yourself. We do have concerns about your well-being so we would like to make sure you have accessibility to some resources. If you are ever having thoughts of killing yourself again you can call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or chat with www.SuicidePreventionLifeline.org from 2pm to 2am. You are always welcomed to call us if you would like additional support.
The verbal abuse can be reported if that is something you would like to do. For more information about reporting verbal abuse you can call Child Help USA at 800-422-4453. We can also help you through this time and can call a reporting agent together.
You mentioned emancipation as one of your options. Although it is an option, becoming emancipated is extremely difficult. You will have to prove to a judge that you are able to solely provide for yourself financially. You will need to prove your income and share your plan. Becoming emancipated is a process and can take a very long time. Additionally, most times, emancipation requires your current guardians’ signatures.
It is not legal to run away in any state. If you were to run away, your parents would most likely look for you and call the police. Your parents will fill out a runaway report and if you come across police they will bring you back home. We can certainly help you seek shelter if you choose to run away however, keep in mind that a shelter’s goal will be to reunite you with your family. It can be a start to receive family intervention about your mother’s verbal abuse towards you.
We hope we have been helpful to you. We are here to support you through this time in your life. If you wish to talk more about all of these options or additional options we are available 24 hours every day and can be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We hope everything gets better for you.
Best wishes,
NRS

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