For Students

You Deserve to Feel Safe

Whatever's going on, you're not in trouble, and you don't have to figure it out alone.

Maybe something feels wrong with a relationship you're in. Maybe someone is asking you to do things you don't want to do, or making you feel like you owe them something. Maybe you're not even sure what to call what's happening, and that's okay too. You don't need the right words to ask for help.

If you tell a trusted adult what's going on, you will not get in trouble. There are laws that protect you, even if you feel like you did something wrong.

If Something Doesnt
Feel Right

Trust that feeling, even if you can't explain it yet. Maybe a relationship feels confusing, someone is pressuring you to do things you're not comfortable with, or a person you trusted is making you feel like you owe them something. You don't need proof, you don't need the right words, and you don't need to have it all figured out before you say something. Feeling unsure is a good enough reason to reach out.

Get Support

Not Ready to Tell Someone?

That's okay, you can start somewhere smaller. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is free, confidential, and available any time, day or night. You can call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733, and you decide how much you want to share. Nothing gets reported without your say, and you're allowed to just ask questions first.

Hotline

Did it happen online or on an app?

If someone has photos or videos of you that you don't want shared, NCMEC's Take It Down can help get them removed, for free and without judgment. And if something online feels scary, confusing, or wrong, whether it's a message, a request, or a person, you can report it directly at CyberTipline.org.

Take it Down

You don't have to have all the answers to help someone you care about. Maybe a friend seems different lately, pulling away, more anxious or secretive, scared of someone, or suddenly has money, gifts, or a relationship that doesn't add up. Trust that instinct. You know your friend, and noticing that something feels off is enough of a reason to pay attention.

You can't force someone to get help before they're ready, and pushing too hard can sometimes make them pull away more. What helps most is just being steady, let them know you're there, that you're not judging them, and that you'll believe them whenever they're ready to talk, even if that's not today.

You're also allowed to reach out for help yourself, even on someone else's behalf. You can call the hotline just to ask what you could do or say next, without giving your friend's name or any details you're not comfortable sharing. And a trusted adult at your school, a counselor, a nurse, a teacher you both trust, can help you figure out the right next step together, so you're not carrying it alone.

How to Support a Friend

A trusted adult is anyone who makes you feel safe, listened to, and not judged, someone who won't panic, won't make it worse, and won't make you feel stupid for asking. It might be a school counselor, a nurse, a teacher you've always liked, a coach, or even a friend's parent. It doesn't have to be a family member, and it doesn't have to be someone in a position of authority. It just has to be someone you actually trust.

If you're not sure who that is yet, that's okay too. School counselors and nurses are trained specifically to help with exactly this kind of thing, and talking to them doesn't mean you're in trouble or that something bad is definitely happening. You can even start small, "can I talk to you about something, I'm not sure how to explain it," is enough to open the door.

Find Support at Your School

In Maryland, if you're under 18 and something like this is happening to you, the law is built to protect you, not punish you. This is sometimes called Safe Harbor, and it means you can't be arrested or charged for things you were forced, tricked, or pressured into doing.

You also have the right to ask questions before deciding anything. You don't have to make a report the moment you talk to someone, you can ask what would happen next, what stays private, and what your options are, and then decide from there. Getting information isn't the same as being locked into a decision.

You don't have to speak perfect English to get help, or to be believed. The National Human Trafficking Hotline offers support in over 200 languages through interpretation services, so you can call or text and ask for help in whatever language feels most comfortable.