Lost Souls
Written by Cassie Licari & Dominique Houle on 26/05/10
Photo by Snugg on Flickr
Teenage years are a difficult time; no one goes through them without confronting a few obstacles. You are right in between childhood and adulthood, and figuring out who you are can be challenging. Sometimes the pressures can feel overwhelming, and you may think that running away from these problems is the only way to escape them. Here is some information that may be useful if you have ever thought about running away from home.
In Canada, teen runaways comprise the largest category of missing children (Child Find Ontario). Teens decide to run away from home for a variety of reasons, and each reason is unique to that person’s situation. Some of the reasons why someone may decide to run away from home are:
• Abuse, domestic violence, parents drinking and using drugs, divorce and/or remarriage, fighting with parents/step-parents/siblings, drinking or drug problems, and/or basic needs are not being met.
For someone who decides to run away, the realities of life outside their home can be very scary. If a youth is not able to get shelter somewhere, they may find themselves living on the street. Young homeless people face many problems, such as not being able to find food or have money to buy necessities. When this happens, some street youth turn to illegal activities to earn money, such as prostitution, stealing and/or dealing drugs. Sometimes, homeless youth will use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to deal with the day-to-day difficulties of living on the street They are also at an increased risk of contracting STI’s or diseases from dirty drug needles (KidsHealth).
If you are thinking about running away from home…
If you’re thinking about leaving home, ask yourself these questions first. You can also try talking to your parents about how you feel. Sometimes they may not understand unless you have an open and mature conversation with them. Dealing with these issues as a family can be very beneficial. Together, you can also speak to a counselor who may see things from a new perspective and help you come up with a solution to the problem (KidsHealth).
If there is abuse going on in your home and you’re afraid to talk to your parents, talk to a teacher, school guidance councilor, police officer or another trusted adult. You can even call the Kids Help Phone and speak to a counselor anonymously. They will be willing to help you find a safe place to stay. Remember that it is not your fault, and don’t be scared to ask for help (KidsHealth).
If one of your friends is thinking about running away from home…
If you know of a friend who wants to run away from home, you should first make sure they know you’re there if they need someone to talk to. Let them know of the dangers of living on the streets, and explore other ways of dealing with the issues they’re facing. Your friend probably feels very alone and confused, so let them know that there are people who can help. It is also important to tell a trusted adult if your friend is planning on running away. Don’t think that you’re telling on them or trying to get them in trouble, even if they may say this to you. You are doing the best thing to keep them safe, and in the end this is most important (KidsHealth).
Ultimately, if you ever feel like you want to run away from home, remember to think about your future and know that there are people in your community who can help. Right now it may seem like the problems in your life couldn’t get any worse, but know that with time, you will overcome these bumps in the road. Our experiences in life and how we handle them speaks to our character and is what makes us unique.
However, if you do make the decision to run away, please seek help from a shelter. From there, work with people who can help you to solve the issues going on at home, or who can help you to find a safe place to live.
Links
KidsHealth
Covenant House Toronto
Child Find Ontario
National Runaway Switchboard
National Safe Place