For the Season 5 premiere of Let's Talk we have the fortune of talking to Jillian Yearns, an 18-year-old youth homelessness advocated from Georgia. At a very young age, Jillian experienced abuse and was kicked out of her home on multiple occasions, eventually leading her to make the difficult decision to leave home for good. In this episode, Jillian shares what motivated her decision making, how judgmental adults and stigma prevented her from seeking help, and why forgiveness is her most powerful tool when processing trauma.

Jillian is a member of the National Runaway Safeline Youth Advisory Board. To learn more, visit 1800RUNAWAY.org/YAB.