Hi there,
Thanks for your letter asking me about neglect. It is important to ask and find out about things you are unsure about. You have done well by writing me this letter.
When someone is being neglected it means that they are not being taken care of properly by their parents or carers, or do not have the important things that they need.
These are the things that people need:
Being looked after properly also means not being left alone for long periods of time. Neglect can also mean having to spend a lot of time looking after other people, like other members of your family, without support. We have more information on neglect on this page. You could also watch this video to learn a bit more about neglect.
I cant tell from your letter if you think you are being neglected but if so (or if you're worried about someone else) then it is important to let someone like a trusted adult know. It's also important to remember that what is happening is not your fault.
If you would like to talk more about this, you could talk to a ChildLine counsellor about it either by phoning them on 0800 1111, chatting on 1-2-1 or emailing them. You can find out more about the way ChildLine works here. You can talk to then confidentially and do not have to give your name if you are not ready.
Bye for now,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
