Seventy two missing children have been reported to the Montreal Missing Children’s Network since the beginning of this year—an unprecedented number not seen since the organization was established 32 years ago, and it’s alarming those officials tasked with trying to get them home.
This year is on track to break a record for the most teenage runaway cases seen in the Montreal area. The figure has almost doubled since last year, said Pina Arcamone, director of the Missing Children’s Network.
In 2016, 77 files were opened—67 of which constituted runaway cases.
In fact, three quarters of all missing children’s cases are made up of teens considered to be runaways.
“I don’t believe we have more runaways—I think parents are reacting quicker,” Arcamone told CTV Montreal.
“I think there was a tendency, perhaps, in the past not to take runaway cases as seriously,” she explained. “We now know that there are real dangers that wait, that confront our teens--- there’s danger of them falling victim to exploitation, to living a life of criminality or delinquency, and I think that parents are reacting more rapidly today.”
Quebec alone sees 5000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 go missing annually, Arcamone said-- a staggering number when compared to statistics gathered from other provinces.
Most of these missing children’s cases are not reported to authorities.
Over half – 58 per cent, to be exact – are female runaways and 42 per cent of cases involve males. The average age of these missing children is between 14 and 15 years old.
While 90 per cent of runaway usually return home after one week, there are currently three active cases in Montreal where teens have been missing for over 100 days.
In total, six files remain open in the Montreal area—another record at the Missing Children’s network for simultaneous unresolved cases.
Arcamone said that there are certain warning signs to look out for, including “sudden, unexpected changes,” for example, if a child that was previously outgoing becomes withdrawn, self-isolates, or completely changes their circle of friends.
There may also be material indicators that a child is at risk.
“A child that may come home with expensive gadgets—iPhone, iPad—and you know he doesn’t have a summer job, that the allowance you give them is not enough to cover the cost of those gadgets,” Arcamone listed as an example.
As a preventative measure, Arcamone said that it’s important for parents to make a vested effort to connect with their child – to empathize and be supportive – and make sure they understand the importance of their overall wellbeing.
