Missing Persons

I was watching CNN Prime News this evening and there was a segment on a woman from Louisiana who is missing. Whenever I see these missing persons stories on the news, it seems they are often about a young child, a teenager, or a pregnant woman and I think how very tragic it is not just for that person, but also for the worried family and friends who are frantically trying to find them. I also sometimes wonder why you don't usually see information on people who may be missing and have a mental illness that is not being treated.

I was therefore surprised to see the brother of this woman on the news, talking about how very worried their whole family was because the missing woman has bipolar disorder and she had apparently written in her journal that she had stopped taking her medications three weeks ago. Her brother stated that when she is on her medications, she is a very kind, thoughtful woman. But without them, she is not thinking clearly and would be experiencing manic-depressive symptoms. Her brother gave an impassioned plea to help find her, asking for people to be compassionate and contact them if someone sees her and that someone from his family would then quickly go and take care of her. His family is from different parts of the country and they're taking turns going to Louisiana whenever there is a sighting.

I was so surprised that they mentioned on the news that this woman had an illness and that, because her family knew she might be even more vulnerable because she wasn't taking her usual prescribed medications, they were even more concerned for her. It really is rare for an anchor to ask the family member, as they did on this news show, "I know you mentioned you were especially concerned because of an issue with medication" and the brother to talk about how important the medications were for his sister and how much they are needed for her well being.

The worry and concern for the safety of someone you love when they are missing is difficult for anyone who has had that experience. This brother's concern because he understands that his missing sister could be even more vulnerable because of her untreated illness may help to educate the public of the importance of prompt, timely treatment.