International Missing Children’s Day: What is it?

Transcript

00:00Well, people may often go missing for a multitude of reasons, often indicating underlying struggles.

00:10For children and young people, common factors include domestic unhappiness, exploitation

00:16risks and mental health issues.

00:19Adults frequently go missing due to mental health challenges, domestic problems or dementia.

00:26The circumstances of each missing person are unique and understanding these reasons is

00:32crucial when they are found or returned.

00:35Missing individuals often seek out places where they feel safe, but unfortunately some

00:41may find themselves in unsafe environments due to exploitation, grooming or mental health

00:47crises.

00:49Adults with dementia might wander to locations with personal significance, while young people

00:55in care might attempt to reconnect with family and friends.

01:01With over 70,000 young people being reported missing each year, 20% of those interviewed

01:06by missing people disclosed information about mental health issues.

01:10On May 25th, the charity hopes to highlight the effect mental health can have on why someone

01:16will go missing and how someone can support children and young people across the UK who

01:21are missing or at risk of going missing.

01:25The observance began in 1983 with US President Ronald Reagan's proclamation of National Missing

01:33Children's Day, and that was following public outcry over the disappearance of six-year-old

01:39Eton Patz.

01:40The Day of Awareness gained international recognition in 2001 as International Missing

01:46Children's Day, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the ICMEC, Missing Children Europe

01:53and the European Commission.