I'm 14 and I need to get out of my house.

[ccsmod16]

Hi there,


HI,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), we are so glad that you did. Firstly, we want to commend you for your strength and bravery throughout this entire process that you have experienced. No one should have to endure what you already have, especially at the hands of a family member, and what you continue to endure each day that your parents allow your brother to stay under the same roof as you and expose details of your personal life to other family members. Your discomfort and fear are completely valid, and your family and the police should be taking this very seriously.

We work best with people if we can have a conversation with them, so we can better understand the situation and explore options or create a safety plan together. We urge you to reach out via chat through this website or on our phone hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are here for you. We believe you.

In addition to speaking with us you may also want to reach out www.rainn.org - The National Sexual Assault hotline, as they may have some legal suggestions that they could help you out with.

We are here to help 24/7 and really hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

My brother raped me through my whole childhood and I never told my parents. They found out around one year ago by going through my notebooks and I am now in counseling. It is helping, but it does not help that they never even punished him, or made him move out. We have filed two police reports but that was it and nothing ever came from it. I feel so unsafe in my home and my parents know that, but they continue to let him stay here. He hasn't touched or penetrated me in a few years, but he's made several comments and he looks at me like he still would like to abuse me. Recently, he's even looked at my little sister that way, I do not feel safe just being in my home. I cannot hide away in my room like I used to and i'm terrified to sleep knowing he used to do things to me while I was asleep before. His looks toward me make me feel uncomfortable and my parents know this. They also tell him personal information about my life that he should have no access to. They have also told other family members without my permission. I feel so frustrated and upset they have taken no action to make me feel safe, or even punish him. They told me he has a plan to move out next year, thinking it would provide me some sort of comfort, but it does not. He should have been gone as soon as they found out to protect me, and I will be leaving next year when I turn 18, so him even moving out next year would not help. I do not feel safe and I am scared. I need to leave this house.

[ccsmod16]

Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We appreciate you reaching out and are sorry to hear about the situation with your legal guardian. It sounds very stressful, and you do not deserve to be treated the way she treats you.

Regarding living with you sister, since you are 14, your guardian can file a runaway report. If your guardian were to file a report, then you could be found by the police and returned home. Also, there are laws about harboring runaways, so while this is rarer, you should know that it is possible for your sister to get in trouble if a report is filed. That being said, if your guardian were to give you permission, then you would be allowed to live with your sister.

Another option could be filing a child abuse report. If this is something you are interested in or would like to hear more about, we can help you with that. We can even just talk through your options and what could happen if you were to chose to file a report. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is another great resource to talk through your options (https://childhelphotline.org/).

It is important that you take care of yourself. Talking with school counselor, teacher, or another trusted adult can be super helpful. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is also a great resource if you’d like to talk about your mental health https://www.nami.org/Home and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ is another helpful resource.

We are here to support you 24/7. If you would like to talk in more detail, please contact NRS either by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chatting online through 1800runaway.org. We care about your safety, so if you are ever in an emergency, please call 911.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

I’m 14 and both of my parents are dead. I live with my legal guardian but I don’t want to stay anymore. There so much verbal abuse that has been happening. I have an older sister who is 21 that I can stay with. I have told her I want to stay and she has agree to it. But I don’t know if my legal guardian will let me leave. I don’t want to just leave because I feel as if they will bring me back because it’ll look like I just ran away. My guardian has many health issues both psychical and mental to where she takes medication for it so I can’t use that. There has been a point to where have tired to kill myself, and my guardian told the doctors that I did it for attention so I didn’t get the help I need. I have tried to talk to her multiple times but she turns everything I say against me. I feel like I’m going crazy, I don’t want to be here anymore but I’m scared to leave because I don’t know how she’ll react.

[ccsmod9]

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

I’m 17 and my parents are very toxic. And they abuse my mentally and they have once physically. What can I do to get out of the house? I’ve reached out for help but nobody believes me. Please tell me what to do.

[ccsmod5]

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, neither do your siblings. It is good to hear that you seem to have a positive relationship with your grandma. It can be hard to speak out about what is going on at home, and we are so proud of you for reaching out. Change comes from taking steps like this. 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.
We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain services).
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

im 14 currently in 9th grade my name is ******** its 2021, back in 2014 to 2015 i was 7 or 8 yrs old in 3rd grade i loved cleaning when my mom saw me clean she was so proud of me same with my step dad , couple months after in dec or jan my step dad proposed to my mom she was happy but then they broke up in 2017, in 2017 i was in 5th grade . me and my mom my little sister and brother had to live with my grandma because we were homeless at that time , recently my grandma told me i did not have to do chores and thats when my mom and grandma started to argue so many times . in 2017 or 16 i got abused by my mom in front of my 1 year old sister ,i got bruised and pushed down to the floor punched in my stomach several times and got kicked , that night was terrifying , i still sometimes get threatned by my mom because she says she will punch me in the face or slap me , or she either says she will kick me out and make me sleep outside . back in 2019 me my sis and brother were beaten , i tried to run away but i couldnt she pushed me towards a wall and kept slapping me and my sister and brother , i got beaten because i was asking my mom what did she say because i couldnt understand her that well , my siblings got beaten for no reason at all ,, i started to cry but when i cried she told me to shut the f up , till this day i still get beaten and yelled at and im tired of it , my mom body shammed me because i ate the last left overs from the night before and that brought me down were to the point i didnt want to eat anymore i get called stupid ,weak, dumba** , and a ***** , i just want to be adopted by my grandma but i dont know how to escape the household. i want to be adopted with a new familly at this point

Help, my parents have been recently treating me like absolute ********, they constantly call me ungrateful they say that the only reason I have social anxiety is because I want attention they also dump everything out of my closet if I forgot to do my laundry they never are satisfied with my accomplishments and prefer to tell the family all the bad/embarrassing things I have done.

[ccsmod15]

You've come to the right place. It seems like you are dealing with a lot right now. Great job reaching
out for help. The National Runaway Safeline offers confidential support 24/7 both on the phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY and via chat on: www.1800runaway.org

Emotional and verbal abuse is hard to be around. Here are a few resources that you can reach out
to for support:


Depression is a very serious disease. There are counselors and medical facilities that can help
get you the support you need.

You can reach out to:

NAMI Helpline
(National Alliance on Mental Illness)
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental heal...
nami.org
Hotline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Business: (217) 522-1403

or

Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
Leading patient-directed national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses. The organization fosters an environment of understandi...

https://www.dbsalliance.org

(800) 826-3632


Self-injury and cutting is usually a coping mechanism. There are other things you can do if you
do not want to harm yourself. You can snap a rubber band on your wrist or you could use a piece of
ice instead. Here's a resource for self-injury:

To Write Love on Her Arms
A non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. The web...

https://www.twloha.com/

(321) 499-3901


As far as emancipation goes, the requirements vary from state to state.
If you'd like more information on emancipation, you can reach out to our hotline or online chat mentioned earlier to explore your full options.

Im 14 and there's to much emotional abuse /fighting verbally and my family sees me as a problem when i need help im so tired of living in that house . I want to be emancipated right now I battle depressioin and have cut myself a few times. THEY know but dismiss it and disown me from problems i clearly told them I needed HELP from.

[ccsmod5]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out, we understand it takes great courage to take this step, and we're glad you did. 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.

You mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain services).

If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering. 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. It's important you know, that your parents kicking you out is illegal, they would need to make sure you have a safe and stable place to stay if they wanted you to leave your home. This is also reportable against them.

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.


Please be safe and reach out soon by phone or chat so that we may help.


Take care,
NRS

Hello,

Ive had issues with my parents for over 5 years, literally since i was 9 years old and over the past two years it only got worse. My parents are always threatening to kill me if im not a virgin (which i still am due to fear of them) and they control, abuse me physically and mentally. im 14, and i basically got nothing. I have to leave tomorrow because my parents are kicking me out and leaving the country because they dont want to ever see me again. im so stressed and going to a friends house but theres so much i dont know. school, jobs, medical, etc. im so lost and my parents dont care they just want me out by tomorrow.

[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 and being in a house with drugs is not safe. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be exposed to this kind of neglect. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. 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 you might talk with CPS about 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.
Another option is to contact police directly about the drug abuse or dealing of the drugs. Many states consider drug abuse and hard drugs in the house to be the same as physical abuse/neglect and can help you get removed from the home.
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

I live with my dad in a one room and one bathroom apartment. We don't have the best relationship. Like at all. I hate the things he does. Im so uncomfortable living here. I've called cps and we had a case for a while but they believed him and not me. I live in a drug house. My dad is a addicted to drugs such as, heroin, cocaine, etc. He really does have a problem. I was in foster care for 3 years between the ages of 7-10. I've got moved home to home until my dad got ms back. My mom isn't in the picture and all my siblings are adopted and living happy. I just wish I could have a normal life with out being scared because my dad might get hurt or overdose. He has people come in and out of our apartment ever since he got me back and I hate it. I hate it so much. I need help to get out.