Fugue as a social evil in Quebec
The runaway in numbers in Canada
This is a worrying phenomenon in Canada; In 2014, police received nearly 41,000 reports of missing children, of which 80% or four out of five were attributable to a runaway. We also note that 14-15 years are 44% of cases. In Quebec, there are 5700 cases, 14% of cases in Canada. The only comfort is that Quebec represents almost 25% of the Canadian population, but one case is one too many.
Police forces try to reassure parents with the statistics that 88% of runaways return during the week following the disappearance. There is a lot of talk about prostitution and street gangs when a girl, 77% of the runaway, is missing. At Fondation Cédrika Provencher (FCP), we are working on ways to make our solutions more interesting than street gangs. We are aware that a single child is coming out of a toxic family environment or fleeing a bullying environment. The street gang is protective, offers a lot of sense of belonging despite violent situations. A girl will fall into the easy and fast gratification of prostitution while boys, a group member who commits criminal acts or delinquents to prove his worth and keep himself in the clan.
Meaning of the fugue
The fugue does not happen without reason. There is something to decode there, a meaning to be found there, because it always sends a message. As long as this is not cleared up, the family will always be in danger of seeing the situation repeat itself.
The meaning conveyed by the fugue varies according to whether it is spontaneous or planned. Spontaneous or impulsive fugue occurs after an incident, a failure or an intense emotion, a triggering event. For the young, running away seems the only way to escape or avoid facing a situation perceived as difficult.
If the fugue is planned, the young person seeks a way of life that seems to promote self-realization, an aspiration towards emancipation. Fugue is a way to respond to unmet needs such as autonomy, freedom or experimentation. It can also be a way of expressing revolt or opposition to the authority of adults, or a request for help. It is also sometimes a way of escaping a situation considered as hopeless.
Useful resources to avoid running away
CAFE program (crisis-ado-family-child)
For information, contact the CLSC or Youth Center in your area, or call Info-Santé at 811.
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CLSC of Center-de-la-Mauricie
1082 Sainte-Hélène Street
Shawinigan, Quebec
G9N 0E6
819-539-8371
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CLSC Trois-Rivières (Saint-Joseph Center)
731 Sainte-Julie Street
Trois-Rivières (Quebec)
G9A 1Y1
819-370-2100 [/ gdlr_column]
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Youth Protection Branch (DPJ) of Mauricie and Center-du-Québec
By phone: 1-800-567-8520
By e-mail: urgency.sociale@ssss.gouv.qc .ca
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1-855- I FUGUE or (1-855-533-8483)
Free and anonymous line to leave a message to your loved ones. Tell us you are safe. No questions are asked [/ gdlr_column]
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