toxic household

[Guest]

Hi i'm 16 years old and i live in a very toxic household i want to get away because its getting to much for me and it's affecting my mental health. I'm thinking about running away and i have a safe place i can go to which is a family member's house. If i were to run away what would happen and would i get in trouble even if i tell them how i'm being treated and how they're breaking the law by doing so?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for getting in touch with NRS, we are really glad you have reached out to us, we know it takes a lot of courage to speak to someone. We are so sorry to hear you are living in a toxic household, you deserve to live in a safe environment where you feel comfortable and are treated properly.

In terms of legally being able to move out of your parents house, usually 18 is the age you are legally considered an adult but it depends on each state, we are not legal experts so we recommend speaking to your local legal aid or local non-emergency police. Runaway laws also vary based on which state you are in but usually if you are a minor then your parents can file a missing persons report, which means the police might bring you back to your parents if they find you.

If you are thinking about running away you may want to think about how you will provide yourself with necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare etc. You mentioned staying with a family member so if you are going to stay there check if they are happy to provide these basic necessities for you. Also, the people you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway, so this is also something to consider. Again for more specifics on the law, please speak to your local non-emergency police or legal aid.

Please remember we are always here to help you in any way we can and we want you to know you are not alone; it might be easier for us to help you with your options on the phone, it is free to call us from any phone or speak to us via the chat: 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or on our chat: https://www.1800runaway.org/. Wishing you all the best.

NRS