Thinking About Leaving Home? Read This First.

If you’re thinking about running away, something probably feels overwhelming.

Maybe you feel unheard. Maybe there’s conflict at home. Maybe you’ve felt dismissed in school, medical spaces, or your community. Maybe you’re tired of explaining yourself.

Wanting relief does not make you dramatic. It means something hurts.

But leaving without a stable plan can put you at serious risk, especially in the first 48 hours.

Why the First Days Are Risky

When a young person leaves home without secure housing, adults may approach offering:

• A place to stay

• Food or rides

• A job

• Validation and attention

• “You can trust me” reassurance

Not everyone who offers help is unsafe. But traffickers deliberately look for youth who feel alone, misunderstood, or disconnected. They do not introduce themselves as traffickers.

They often:

• Act protective

• Move quickly toward emotional closeness

• Encourage secrecy

• Offer solutions that seem easier than going home

What starts as comfort can shift into control.

Before You Leave, Consider These Steps

If you’re thinking about leaving tonight or soon:

1. Text or call someone safe first. A relative. A school counselor. A coach. A friend’s trusted parent.

2. Ask yourself: Where will I sleep safely for more than one night? Who will know where I am?

3. If medical or identity-related conflict is part of what’s happening, look for another trusted adult to help mediate instead of disappearing.

Leaving feels like taking control. But sometimes the safest control is pausing.

If you are in immediate danger inside your home, call 911.

If you need to talk to someone right now, you can call or text 988. This phone number is a youth-friendly suicide and crisis lifeline with confidentiality. You do not need to provide your name.

If you’ve already left home, please read the next article immediately.