For Those of Our Future

Growing up can be confusing.

Sometimes you know exactly what is wrong.

Sometimes you only know that something doesn't feel right.

Sometimes you are angry, scared, lonely, embarrassed, overwhelmed, confused, or exhausted and you don't know why.

Sometimes the problem is inside you.

Sometimes the problem is around you.

Sometimes it is both.

And sometimes the adults around you don't understand what is happening either.

The Way Home is a place to begin looking.

You do not have to already understand yourself.

You do not have to have the right words.

You do not have to prove that something is serious enough to deserve help.

And you do not have to become someone else to deserve to be treated with dignity.

Different ages come with different kinds of questions.

You can look at any section here, even if it is not the section written for your age.

You might find something useful by seeing what someone older or younger is dealing with.

There is no rule saying you can only read your own section.

Sometimes someone online may pressure you to send a photo, video or personal information. They may threaten you, threaten to share something you already sent, ask for money, pretend to be someone they are not, or try to make you keep the situation secret.

This can happen to anyone. It is not your fault, and you do not have to figure it out by yourself.

If someone is threatening, pressuring or exploiting you:

• Stop responding if you can. You do not need to keep negotiating with them.
• Do not send more images, money or personal information because someone is threatening you.
• Save what you can. Keep messages, usernames, account information, payment requests and other evidence if it is safe to do so.
• Use the platform's reporting and blocking tools when appropriate.
• Tell someone you trust. That might be a parent or caregiver, another family member, teacher, counsellor, youth worker or another safe adult.
• If an intimate image of you is being shared or someone is threatening to share one, NeedHelpNow.ca can help you understand what to do next and connect you with support.

You do not need to be certain that what happened "counts" as exploitation before asking for help.

If you are in immediate danger, or someone is threatening to physically hurt you, call 911.

Sometimes people hurt themselves when something inside them feels too difficult, painful, overwhelming or impossible to put into words.

Self-harm can take different forms. You may understand why you are doing it, you may not understand it at all, or you may understand part of it and still feel unable to stop.

Understanding what is happening can matter. But you do not have to figure it all out before asking for help.

If you are hurting yourself, or thinking about hurting yourself, telling someone can be a place to begin.

You can tell a parent or caregiver, teacher, counsellor, doctor, nurse, coach, relative, friend or another person you trust.

If the person you would normally tell is part of the problem, or you do not feel safe telling them, look for someone else.

You do not have to wait until it becomes worse.

If you have seriously injured yourself, think you may seriously hurt yourself, or you cannot keep yourself safe, get immediate help.

If you are thinking about suicide or ending your life, you can call or text 9-8-8 in Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 Need help understanding self-harm or finding someone to talk to?

It might be:

• another family member;
• a teacher;
• a school counsellor;
• a coach;
• a doctor or nurse;
• a social worker;
• a youth worker;
• a friend's parent;
• another adult you trust;
• or a professional support service.

You can start by saying:  "Something is happening and I don't know what to do."

You do not need a perfect explanation.

You can also ask someone to simply listen before giving advice.

And if the first person does not help, try another.

One person's failure to listen does not make what you are experiencing less real.

You may notice that a friend has changed. Someone may stop talking, stop showing up, seem frightened or hopeless, start using drugs or alcohol differently, hurt themselves, talk about not wanting to be here, or seem caught in something they cannot get out of.

You may want to fix it.

You may feel responsible for keeping them safe.

You may be afraid that if you tell someone, they will be angry with you or stop trusting you.

You can care deeply about someone without becoming responsible for carrying their pain alone.

You can listen.

You can ask what they need.

You can tell them you are worried.

You can encourage them to talk to someone who can help.

And you can involve another trusted person when the situation is too serious, dangerous or overwhelming for you to handle by yourself.

If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide or seriously hurting themselves, take it seriously. You do not have to decide whether they really mean it or whether the situation is "bad enough" to get help.

If you believe they may be in immediate danger, call 911.

If you are worried about someone who may be thinking about suicide, you can also call or text 9-8-8 in Canada. You can reach out even if you are asking about someone else.

You are allowed to get help for yourself too.

Helping someone does not mean keeping their secrets at any cost.

Sometimes the safest thing you can do for someone is bring another person into the situation.

And sometimes caring for someone also means knowing what you can and cannot carry.