If someone frightens you
Not every kid who doesn’t want to see a parent is being pushed by someone else. Sometimes there’s a real reason — because of something that parent did, or does, that scares you or hurts you.
If that’s true for you, you’re allowed to feel that way, and it’s not your fault.
Who do I tell?
A grown-up you trust — a teacher, a school counsellor, another family member, or a helpline. You don’t have to have the perfect words. “I don’t feel safe with [name]” is enough to start with.
Will they keep it a secret?
We can’t promise that, and it’s important you know that before you tell someone. A trusted adult might need to tell someone else — like a social worker — to keep you safe. That’s not them betraying you. It’s them taking you seriously.
What if I already told someone and nothing changed?
Keep telling. Tell a different adult if the first one didn’t help. You’re allowed to ask more than once.
If you need to talk to someone right now
Nummer gegen Kummer, for children and young people: 116 111. It’s free, and they won’t tell your parents you called unless you want them to.
We can’t promise that everything you tell an adult stays secret — sometimes an adult needs to tell someone else to keep you safe. That’s true here too.
Worried someone might see you’ve been here? Cover your tracks.