[Mallika]

Hi Danni,

Thank you so much for reaching out and I'm sorry that you haven't received a response yet.

Firstly, I want to say that you are a very thoughtful older sibling to look out for your brother. I can understand why you would be so worried - you probably wouldn't want him to be navigating all the toxicity at home at his young age. However, you need to do what you have to do; if you feel that you are in a better place mentally when you're away from home, you need to focus on that.

As for keeping an eye on your brother, there are a few things you could do:

- Be in regular touch with him. It could be a video chat like you used to do while you were at college. That way, he will know that you still have his back.

- I don't know if he has a phone, but you even if it is not possible to chat via video call, you can remain in contact with him through texts on a daily basis. I find texts a really convenient way to keep another person updated about the smaller events in my day-to-day life, especially when video calls/phone calls tend to focus on the more important matters.

- Find someone reliable who can keep an eye on him. It's important that your brother has someone older, more mature whom he can trust and reach out to while you're away at college. Perhaps you could get in touch with his teacher at school? You could explain your home situation to them and share your concerns. Teachers really go the extra mile to keep an eye on their pupils, especially those who might be in need of extra attention due to their home atmosphere. If I were to think of a reliable adult who could take your position (someone other than a family member), I can only think of a teacher. Of course, if you happen to know a family friend or relative in the neighbourhood who can look out for your brother, they can also be a supportive figure. You can be in touch with this person as they update you about how your brother is coping while you're not at home.

These are some suggestions I can think of right now. Overall, being in constant touch with him will show him that you're there for him if he ever needs it. Additionally, having a reliable adult who can look out for him will be an additional form of support for him and a source of relief for you as well.

Take care and feel free to PM me if you have any questions!!