I want to run away to my friends house. Not sure what to do though. Should I run away?

Hi, well, since you want to run away, I guess there things you're running from. Running away can have serious consequences, for you, your family, your friend (and your friends parents, if your friend is a minor). But staying can also have serious consequences for you I guess, so everything is a question of priorities and needs. Just so you know, depending on the country you live in and its laws, but also your age, things can be different. In France for instance, if you host a minor (under 18) in your place, you have 24 hours to declare it (by going to a shelter for runaway kids). Or else you can go to jail. So, well, that's something to keep in mind ! After that, educators will try to understand why you ran away, and see if it's best to keep you away from your family, or if they can talk to you and your parents and see if there can be some sort of resolution of conflict you know. If they think that's too dangerous for you to go back, you get to see a judge that will decide to put you in foster care / in a foster family etc. That's how it can work in France. I don't know how it is in your country, but maybe you could find out, to know exactly how can things evolve for you if you run away. To make yourself safe you know ? So, if your friend(s) live(s) at their parents, you would want to make sure their parents would protect you and not send you back home. If your friend(s) live(s) on their own and if they're adult(s), then you'd want to know (or ask them about it) if they have some legal obligation to respect, in order to be able to help you without putting themselves in danger. Best thing I guess is to have a plan, with your friend(s), so that they will be prepared and know what to do. If you feel you're in danger, that you'll kill yourself if you stay at home, then yeah, running away can save your life. It's just not something one does lightly, so it should be your last option. If you wanna talk about it, feel free to contact me, I'd be glad to help you find out what's the best option for you in your situation. (I have some personal knowledge of such situations, since I hosted a runaway teenager once)

Many people who decide to run away think they'll find a life that's free of the troubles they have at home, only to discover they're faced with different, bigger problems. Life for runaway teens is hard. They often end up homeless, stealing, or even selling drugs or sex in an effort to make money. Every year in the United States, lots of runaway teens die, often because they are attacked, become ill, or take their own lives. People tend to run away for a lot of reasons: abuse (whether it's physical, emotional, or sexual), family troubles, or problems with school, bullying, or friends. Some teens run away because of alcohol or drug problems — their own or a family member's. Others run away to be with someone. If a friend is thinking about running away, talk about why. Try to work together to help your friend find solutions to his or her problems. At the same time, speak with an adult you trust as soon as possible. Tell that adult that your friend is talking seriously about running away. If you don't feel comfortable telling your parents, ask another relative, a teacher, coach, school counselor, your family doctor, or a religious leader for help. A trusted adult might be able to help your friend understand that there are better alternatives to running away. If your friend is still serious, though, make sure he or she has the number of the National Runaway Safeline: (800) RUNAWAY, or (800) 786-2929. This service for teens in need is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The safeline can help teens find food, shelter, and medical care, as well as provide counseling for homeless teens in crisis. The service will even help runaway teens contact people back home by providing a message service and setting up conference phone calls. Your friend doesn't need to be a runaway to call and ask their advice: Many of the teens who contact the safeline call from home or a friend's house before running away. If your friend does run away, or if you haven't seen him or her in a few days and you think that's what's happened, take action immediately. Talk to a trusted adult and explain that you believe your friend ran away. Don't be shy about sharing any information about where your friend might be going, and don't wait in hopes that he or she might come back after a few days. Your friend's life could depend on it — the sooner it is reported, the more likely your friend will be found safe