Alex's Answer

Hi there and welcome to Ask Alex.  

Thank you so much for reaching out to us and trusting us with your thoughts. We know it can be a difficult thing to do, but we also know how great it is for young people to share their thoughts and their emotions. Talking about and sharing what is going on for you is a big step forward towards getting the support you may need.  

We are sorry to hear that you are going through this with your family. You are saying that your dad is hurting you emotionally and that he is a hater of the LGBTQ+ community of which you are a member. You also mentioned that your father blames you for everything including when your brother hurt your mam. You are so brave in getting the help and support that you deserve around the challenges you are currently facing.  

It is important for your mental health and well-being that you get the support you need and that you know that none of this is your fault. No one has the right to harm you or hurt you physically, mentally or emotionally. Your parents have a responsibility to look after you, to care for you and to listen to you. You do have a right to talk to an adult you trust and feel comfortable with, about what is going on for you at home and to talk about your relationship with your parents. 

If you are ever feeling unsafe at home, or anywhere else, you have the right to call the emergency services on 999 or 112. You can always contact Tusla- the Child and Family agency to discuss this further. It is their job to make sure all young people are safe and looked after in Ireland. If you would like further information on how Tusla can help you, you can visit the Changing Futures website. You can access the website by clicking the following link: https://changingfutures.ie/. You can see how to get in touch with Tusla here; https://changingfutures.ie/contact. (This may require the help of an adult). 

If you feel you need additional support in relation to your identity, www.BelongTo.ie is an organisation for LGBTQI+ youth. You can find out how they work and what support they can offer you on their website.  

Remember, you can always phone Childline on 1800 66 66 66 to talk about what is going on for you if you don’t feel ready to talk to someone in your life quite yet. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our text service, which can be reached on 50101 and Web Chat service through www.childline.ie are also available daily. While we will not tell you what to do, we are here to listen to and support you, and to help you to explore the options that are available to you in your life. We are here to help you in a way that suits you.   

We hope that the information we have given you is useful. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any other questions.  

Take care,  

Alex