Look for signs before they go missing
Australians are being asked to look out for the signs of those at risk of going missing, and to seek appropriate support. As part of National Missing Person’s Week last week, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Senator Jacinta Collins, reminded people that support was available for people who were going through a tough time.
Australians are being asked to look out for the signs of those at risk of going missing, and to seek appropriate support.
As part of National Missing Person’s Week last week, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Senator Jacinta Collins, reminded people that support was available for people who were going through a tough time, and needed support to “get their lives back on track”.
The federal government has made mental health a priority, with a record $2.2 billion investment in mental health over five years from 2011-12. As part of this investment, there has been a commitment to develop 90 sustainable headspace sites around Australia by 2014-15, with more than half of these sites already operational.
“Living with a mental illness can severely affect a person’s ability to cope with everyday life. In some instances, this can lead them to leave without telling their loved ones. In other instances, a person may not even know they are missing,” Senator Collins said.
Minister Collins said people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are also at an increased risk of going missing.
“When people living with dementia wander from their homes or other safe environments, they are sometimes unable to remember why they left, where they are, and how they can contact carers or get home.”
Through the Living Longer. Living Better aged care reforms, the government has committed $268.4 million to tackle dementia. This funding aims to support people with dementia to access appropriate care and to remain in their homes and communities for longer.
If you are worried about a loved one who wanders due to dementia, you can call the National Dementia Helpline and referral service on 1800 100 500 for information and advice. Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
