Whatever the nature of your family or home life, parents or other adults in your life should be there to keep you safe and to nurture and support you. However, sometimes they just don’t seem to understand what is really going on with you and you find yourself arguing with them more and more.

Misunderstanding and conflict with adults in your life can be over a struggle for independence - perhaps they don’t want you to grow up while you can’t grow up fast enough. Differences in opinion can be seen as personal attacks. Pressures of school or work, family or cultural values or a change in the family circumstances or structure, such as separation, divorce, moving house or the birth of a new brother or sister can be common causes of conflict.

Believe it or not, these are probably the same issues that your parents had with your grandparents. Talk the issues through with your family to reach a compromise - they’ve been there themselves and they might be more understanding than you think. Remember, parents only want what is best for their children.

Every now and again family issues can’t be resolved, and this could lead to finding yourself homeless. The issue may be directly related to you, other people in the home, or other matters. Abuse (physical, emotional or sexual), relationship breakdown, domestic violence, financial problems, disability, illness, addiction (to alcohol, drugs or gambling) or overcrowding are some of the potential causes of homelessness. All of these, as well as homelessness itself, can have an impact on mental health.

If you would like to talk to someone regarding difficulties at home visit Relate Teen www.relateni.org/relateteen.htm

For advice if you are facing homelessness visit www.simoncommunity.org or www.centrepoint.org

For advice and support if you are a victim of domestic violence visit www.womensaid.org.uk