Fed: National Missing Persons Week launched

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2007
Fed: National Missing Persons Week launched

By Melissa Iaria

MELBOURNE, Aug 5 AAP - It pains Sally Hearn to think her husband will not be around
to see his baby granddaughter grow up.

Patrick Hearn, 80, is one of 30,000 people reported missing in Australia over the past year.

He left his Melbourne home on June 7 with some medication, the clothes on his back
and a water flask and hasn't been seen since.

"(It's) a terrible situation to be in, not knowing where he is, how he is - it's two
months now and all of us left behind miss him terribly," Mrs Hearn said.

In 2006-07, 7,565 Victorians were reported missing to police along with more than 10,000
people in NSW.

It is believed about 15 per cent of those Victorians and 23 per cent of those from
NSW suffered mental illness.

The police statistics were launched for the start of National Missing Persons Week
2007, which this year will focus on mental health.

Beyondblue chief Dr Nicole Highet said escaping to resolve personal issues was not
only hard for the individual concerned, but also those left behind.

"We've got to remember when we're talking about mental illness, the number one symptom
is withdrawal and isolation from other people," Dr Highet said.

"This really highlights why a lot of these people are likely to go missing."

Mrs Hearn said her husband Patrick was depressed and suffering unbearable pain.

"So much so, it reduced me to tears and that's why I believe he left," she said.

"I think he went away to take his tablets and get better so he wouldn't pain us, looking
at him as he was."

Mr Hearn had been on medication for 10 days but could not cope with pressures of day-to-day life.

"He didn't have the energy because of the medication to sweep up the backyard that
very morning and that distressed him," Mrs Hearn said.

"Minor, minor, minor things but all these layers and layers of depression, it was just
too much for him and it was just horrendous."

Half the people reported missing nationally are under 18.

About 99 per cent of all missing people are found safe and well.

But Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland said the public could help shed
light on the small number of unexplained disappearances.

"Possible sighting or even the smallest piece of information can be the final link
police need to end the questions of family and friends," Mr Overland said.

This week, the images of 11 missing Victorians will be posted at four metropolitan
train stations in a bid to find them.

Photographs of missing people will also be shown on big screens at NRL matches in NSW.

Mr Overland said missing people may not realise the impact their absence is having
on other's lives and urged them to report to a police station.

"We won't tell your family where you are if you don't want us to, but we can at least
let them know that you're alive and okay."

AAP mi/gfr/jm/mn

KEYWORD: MISSING (PIX AVAILABLE)

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