Q&A for How to Deal With a Runaway Teen

I've been through this and I really thought I would lose my friend. I talked to her and she wouldn't listen to me so I had to talk to my parents. My mom talked to her parents and my friend didn't talk to me for two months because I "betrayed" her. I think she went to a really good psychologist. We are finally friends again, but it took her a little while to come back to me. Support your friend, show him/her that you won't let go and eventually tell him/her to talk to his/her parents.

Call Child Protective Services. They will most likely place the child with other family members or with a foster family.

He is a teenager. Teenagers grow and they want to explore. He might have run away because he wants something or feels something is missing from his life. Ask him what he wants. It may be that he just needs to learn something very important the hard way. Just let him know that you are always there for him if he needs you.

You can tell him he can trust you, and then you can tell him one of your secrets so that he knows that you trust him.

If you can get in touch with her, apologize to her and tell her what she means to you.

It depends. If it's for a relatively mild reason and they're likely to patch things up pretty quickly, invite them to stay on your couch for a day or two but make sure they know it's temporary. If it's something serious (the child was abused, the child was kicked out for being gay, trans, etc.), you might have to get social services involved. Of course, you're not absolutely required to do anything, it's all up to your discretion.

If your teen is acting out violently, he made need to see a therapist to learn how to deal with his anger issues. This will likely only get worse as he becomes an adult, so be proactive about seeking help for him now.

Harboring a runaway is illegal, so there is a chance they could get in trouble, even if they didn't technically know you were a runaway. It would be best to just be honest with your friend so they can make a decision for themselves about whether or not to let you stay with them.

If he left not too long ago, maybe he just needs space for now. If you feel the time is right, you could try putting your feelings down in a note/letter and giving it to him.

Confront your sibling, but not in an accusatory manner. Be gentle, understanding, and compassionate; try to see the situation from their perspective. Acknowledge and validate any hurt or anger they may be feeling, but encourage them to cope with it in healthier, more productive ways. As a last resort, alert your parents to your fears so they can keep a closer eye on your sibling.

Contact the police and social services in your area for help.

Either try reasoning with her or the men. Otherwise, you could call the police, but the best thing to do is try reasoning with her.

Don't walk. I have done this. It doesn't help. Have a calm, respectful conversation with your mom about the possibility of moving in with your dad. If you're afraid she won't listen to you or understand you, talk to another trusted adult first, like a teacher or counselor, and ask them to help you talk to your mom. If you run away, you'll be putting yourself in danger, and if you even make it to your dad's, he will likely have to send you right back, and your mom will be really mad.

Take this as a sign that some kind of abuse may be happening at home. Running away to avoid punishment is a good sign that something abusive is happening. He may be afraid for his life because he knows he will get beaten or locked in his room when he gets home.

It sounds like what your daughter needs is some support. Talk to her about how you love her and tell her you're not mad, but just want to make sure she's safe. Your daughter will appreciate your kindness, and may trust you with more things then if you responded with anger or threats.

If you want to inform your parents about your feelings, you should find a time where you can talk to them. Tell them your feelings and why you want to run away. Maybe then you will find a solution that does not involve running away.

Try not to take any extreme measures at first. Ask your daughter why she's hiding her younger siblings from you. If you're genuinely worried that your kids may be in trouble, then that's when you should call law enforcement.