I'm trying to run away from home. Can someone give me tips?

Posted by LeekHealthy8284@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 13 comments

I want to run away from home. I can't take it anymore. I'm a teen, aged 17 in the UK. I get a money income of about 550 a month that's not from parents. I currently live with one of my parents. I have lived with this parent for a couple years now as my other parent kicked me out, this parent honestly pretty much took me in out of obligation instead of love. We're constantly arguing, if not then the house is silent, I don't have many friends so alone a lot of the time. I have struggled with depression for at least four years (6 if I'm being honest), I have had thoughts of ending it, but have hesitated to, but I'm honestly at breaking point, I've tried therapy, antidepressants and counselling. Nothing works, and living like this is making me so much worse. I feel like I'm going insane. Social services have been involved before and did basically nothing. I NEED a fresh start somewhere new, anywhere but here, I have no family who could take me in, no friends to either. So if people can suggest tips and possible shelter options for myself, that would be extremely helpful.

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13 Comments

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LeekHealthy8284@reddit (OP)

Update for those who are curious. I'm still with the paremt mentioned. I've managed to keep my head down by putting loads of effort into going to college, auditions and clubs. Still struggling with mental health though and am struggling with weight as I'm obese. Just a monthish until I'm 18, looking into moving out peacefully soon. Thankyou for the advice and I did look into most of it, but because there's no physical abuse in the household, only verbal abuse, the council route wouldn't have worked and shelters would eventually have called my parent. Sorry to dissapoint

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Dry_Construction4939@reddit

As you're under 18, your local council has a responsibility to house you. If you're absolutely desperate to get out of there, present yourself to local council offices tomorrow, explain that you don't have anywhere safe to live, don't leave until they've given you accommodation. Give shelter a ring as well, they'll point you in the right direction. Don't feel too burnt up about antidepressants not working, because of the way they work, and your growing brain chemistry, they just simply might not click for a bit, it took me till 23 to find that they started working for me. Therapy as well, is one that takes quite a few attempts to find what works for you. Best of luck, and just know, that while it doesn't feel like it right now, it does get better. I was incredibly suicidal at your age, and I'm now very much loving life, *you will get there.*

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LeekHealthy8284@reddit (OP)

The issue is the moment I go to them they'll contact my parent, won't they? And if they do it'll cause more problems and my environment will become less stable, they have had times where they've kicked me out for a night and I've had to try and get a friend to let me sleep on their couch.

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Dry_Construction4939@reddit

Shelter absolutely will not, and I'm pretty confident that if you explain to the local council that you are running away from abuse, they won't say anything either.

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Annabelle_Sugarsweet@reddit

You don’t need to run away you can contact your council to try and get temporary accommodation with them, you may also be eligible for certain benefits like housing benefits, might have to wait until you’re 18, but really that’s not so long if you keep your head down: https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators You could look to go to university in some other town, and use the student loan money to essentially move yourself out. You could use your own money to move out? But you’re liable to have dodgy characters try and take advantage of you. The army is also an option if that’s your thing, or even getting an apprenticeship somewhere in another town and just moving for that?

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StuartHunt@reddit

As long as you are living with someone over the age of 18, you can leave home anytime after the age of 16.

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NiceCaterpillar8745@reddit

I believe your local council has to house you since you're under 18.

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Fluid-Economist8150@reddit

Also Edinburgh is gorgeous the best city in the uk I've ever been to and also has lots of emergency housing. Idk how it works at 17 when you are still a child could get put into a children's home idk could be worse than your situation now

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astralwisdom7@reddit

This ^. Go to your local council, you're under 18 so the council has to listen to you.

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Fluid-Economist8150@reddit

Go somewhere up north so when you are wanting to buy a house one day it'll at least be more affordable

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crispydietcokex@reddit

Definitely get onto your council. If you have a small income, is there any rooms you can rent for your own space? Ps 17 is a hard age, especially with difficult parents. Hold on, it gets so much better, I promise.

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ResplendentBear@reddit

I'd call the Samaritans. And then the Citizens Advice Bureau. Nothing wrong with moving out, but try and wait until you can plan, get an income you can live on and find others to live with to share costs. Whatever you do, do not do anything stupid. Your life has immense value.

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