What are the things that might make you feel worried?

It's easy to say that you should know if you're being abused or neglected and placed at risk of harm. But sometimes it's not that simple.

People who harm you might tell you that what they're doing is okay and that the same thing happens to everyone. If you get hit and have grown up in a house where people hit other people a lot of the time, you might think that this is the way everyone behaves. Or you might feel that you're in control of the situation and be able to get out of it if you want.

One way of deciding whether something is wrong is to ask youself some questions:

• Do I like what's happening to me?
• Do I feel that what's happening is wrong?

Trust your feelings. If you think something is wrong, then you're probably right.

There are some signs that you can look out for that will help you decide that something might be wrong. But, remember, these are just a few signs, not all of them. If you feel that there are other things that make you feel uncomfortable, then GO WITH YOUR FEELINGS.

What might an adult do that makes you feel worried?

All adults have a responsibility to care for and treat children properly. One or more of the following signs may make you feel that you are at risk of harm.

If the adult:

• is behaving in an angry way towards you, either the way they speak to you or the way they behave - like hitting you
• if they say things about your body or touch you in a way you don't like
• is drunk or using drugs when they should be looking after you
• leaves you alone in your house or somewhere else for a long time
• leaves someone else to look after you who you think doesn't know how to do that.

These are just some of the signs that may mean that you're at risk of harm. There may be other signs that make you feel that something's wrong. Trust your Feelings. They're usually right.