What should I do if I run away from home?
If you’ve already run away
- Get support. Talk to a Childline counsellor or the Runaway Helpline for confidential support and advice.
- Go somewhere safe. This could be a relative, police station or a friend you feel safe with.
- Know your rights.
- Keep in contact with people.
- Plan where to go if you’re unsafe.
Is it OK to run away from home?
Running away from home is never a good idea unless you have a valid reason and a place to stay. Before making this decision make sure you will have everything you need to be safe and healthy.
What happens if a 15 year old runs away?
Each year, many teenagers run away from home. Other teenagers are told to leave home by their parents. In most states, running away is not a crime; however, runaways and their parents or guardians can face legal consequences. Adults who encourage or hide runaways can be charged with a crime.
What are the dangers of running away from home?
70% are never even reported missing.
- Drugs and alcohol. Often, runaways use alcohol or drugs to mask their pain and enable them to tolerate the things they have to do to survive.
- Homelessness. The longer young people stay on or around the streets, the more detached they become from society.
- Crime.
- Mental health problems.
Why running away is a bad idea?
Running away from your problems leads to more and more problems. You lose sight of who you could’ve been if you’d actually committed to something, or stuck it out when the going got tough. Instead, you create a world that you have to tip-toe through because it’s full of land mines that haven’t been dealt with.
What do you do when your child keeps running away?
If your child has run away, you need to call the police, plain and simple. I understand that not all parents want to do this, but I think it’s imperative that you take this step.
How long do cops look for runaways?
If there is abuse, then yes, you need to get away and tell an authority or an older relative. If you are under seventeen years of age, the police will continue to look for you indefinitely. So if you can go to a social worker at a hospital or a police authority if there is abuse, that would be best.