Alex's Answer

Hi there and welcome to Ask Alex. 

We understand that it can be difficult to talk about what’s going on for you, so thanks for reaching out.   

So, you’re asking what to do if you feel unsafe?  We would be worried to hear that you are feeling unsafe.  There are many different situations which can lead to someone feeling unsafe and it’s important that you are aware that no one has the right to make you feel unsafe, especially if you are somewhere like your own home, school, youth club etc. 

If you feel you are in immediate danger, you can contact the Gardai on 112 or 999 and tell them that you are feeling unsafe.  There are also some other people whose jobs are to keep young people safe, such as a Social Worker in Tusla.  You can find your local Duty Social Work Team at this link www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/duty-social-work-teams/ and how to contact them. 

We understand that it can take a lot of courage to reach out to someone if you’re feeling unsafe.  Sometimes it might be easier to talk to an adult you trust who can support you to contact the Gardai or a Social Worker.  This could be a youth worker, relative, sports coach, etc.

There are some articles on the Childline website which may also help you with the problems you are facing at the moment. This article explores different ways young people can access support depending on the situation they are facing:  www.childline.ie/getting-help/

If you feel like talking some more about this, you can contact us here at Childline, 24 hours a day. Our listening service is free and non-judgemental, and we would love to hear from you. You can phone 1800 66 66 66 or chat online at www.childline.ie. You can start a chat with one of our volunteers by clicking the orange tab on the right hand side of your screen.  

Take care of yourself, 

Alex