Missing mentally ill

These stories rarely make national headlines. But, for the family of an adult with a severe mental illness who has gone missing, it’s nerve-racking and devastating. The families know the danger their loved one is facing.

For a person experiencing delusions as the result of untreated severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, following their delusions may seem logical. Meanwhile, families are left to wait, wonder and worry about their loved-one who is unable to care for themselves without appropriate medication.

In California, Donald Wayne Tomason’s father is still clinging to hope that his 33 year-old son with bipolar disorder who has been missing since February, will return.

According to news stories, there has been “no sign of the 33-year-old, who has delusions of being chased when not on medication to treat bipolar disorder”

Tomason’s father says he has “catastrophic fantasies” about what has happened to his son.

Unfortunately these stories are not uncommon. Last week in Missouri, a 67 year-old who suffers from schizophrenia was reported to be missing for more than a month, and in Texas a 47- year-old man with a mental illness has been reported missing for at least a week. The families of both of these men are deeply concerned about their safety.

A missing adult might not make national headlines, but when that person has a severe, untreated mental illness, it certainly deserves our attention.

Missing persons

The story about the two missing boys who were found alive in Michigan has made the nation painfully aware of the suffering that families must experience when a beloved child disappears. On any given day, there are scores of families around the country wondering about a missing loved one whom they know is vulnerable to a severe mental illness. Three separate newspaper stories yesterday exposed the commonality of this problem:

A Michigan man’s 56-year old brother who has schizophrenia walked away from a group home without his medication and has been missing for 2 weeks.

A Maryland family is hoping that their mentally ill brother, who has been missing for a month, will return safely. Before he left, he told his sister that he wanted to go to the airport, but he left without his medication.

While those families are hoping for a safe return, others are not so fortunate.

An Arlington, VA woman learned that her brother who suffered bipolar disorder was found dead in the woods neighboring the George Washington Parkway. The discovery ended nearly 2 months wondering where her brother was.

Our hearts go out to these families and so many others who are still wondering and waiting for a mentally ill loved one to return.

Using the internet to save lives

Are you searching for a person with mental illness who has gone missing? Do you know someone else that is? USA Today reported on how the Internet can be a helpful tool to find people. There are a number of social networking tools and websites that might be helpful. For example:

Tina Gorman of Webster, Fla., has been searching for 3½ years for her missing son, John Townsend, 31, who has bipolar disorder. She posts messages on the Internet in hopes someone with information will contact her. She also included a link on her work website to her son's profile at the National Center for Missing Adults.

We hope Tina Gorman's son, and all the other missing family members who are out there, will be found unharmed.

Memorial Day

Kendra.
Laura.
Kevin.
Gregory.
Alan and Gene.
Ian.
Vicky, Michael, and Michael.
Jeff.
Pamela.
Ben, Garrett, David, Michael, Richard.
And thousands more.

Those who took their own lives. Those who are missing in action in a different way – homeless on our streets or lost in their own homes. Those who are a different kind of prisoner of war – a war in their minds, imprisoned in our jails. – a war in their minds, imprisoned in our jails. And those who were caught in the crossfire – law enforcement officers, family members, mental health professionals, friends.

Today we remember. And as others work to unlock the science behind these terrible diseases, we vow anew to break down the legal barriers to people getting the treatment they need.

Missing persons

These stories are everywhere. A young man in Oregon was missing – and was safely found. This missing man in Washington wasn’t as lucky. And this mother in Arkansas is still hoping. What is a family to do?

Sad ending

Broder suffered from schizophrenia and [authorities] said the area he was discovered in was indicative of somebody who was disoriented, given that it was in an isolated area not accessible by any roads and bordered by swamp land.

“Lost man found dead,” Auburn Citizen, January 31, 2006

Read more: Needs treatment, but gone missing

Needs Treatment … But Gone Missing

Cindy Shannon, 41, is schizophrenic and is on three types of medications. … "I'm just worried about her," Terri Shannon said. "She usually calls. I'm just surprised she hasn't called. I know she doesn't know she's been gone several days. … Terri Shannon said her sister might look unkempt by now and most likely would be talking to herself or she could be panhandling for change or food. … "She's not violent," Terri Shannon said. She worries that people might hurt her sister or that her sister might become a victim of a hit-and-run driver. [San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Jan 12, 2006]

When a family member is missing, time seems to stand still.

We hear too many stories about people with severe mental illnesses who disappear, leaving their family members mired in feelings of panic, worry, helplessness and hopelessness, fear that the police will not find their loved one... and fear that they will find them, after it is too late. Just this month, we’ve seen stories from across the country, like California (they found a missing woman’s clothes, but haven’t yet found her) and Oklahoma (an unhappy ending).

WHY?? In most of these cases, the missing person is unaware that they are sick. They may believe that they are on the run from the CIA or the mafia. This phenomenon — called anosognosia — affects the majority (55 percent) of those not receiving treatment for severe mental illnesses. You cannot convince someone with anosognosia that that they are sick because they fully believe their delusion. In many cases, the only way to get someone with anosognosia into treatment is via a court order.

WHAT CAN I DO?? Because people with anosognosia who are missing are often times constantly on the move, this presents an additional legal challenge to families trying to get their loved one committed — each state has a very specific law in regard to assisted treatment or involuntary commitment. That can make it especially hard on families who are trying to navigate a law they don't know in a state where they don't live.

What can you do if someone you love is missing?

• Read some real-world advice from a family that has been there …
• Contact the Center for Missing Adults
• Connect with others in similar situations (try the great message boards on www.schizophrenia.com or your local chapter of NAMI)