Emotional disconnect driving children from home: Archbishop

Many children who are missing from home are not being forced out; they walk away from homes where they feel unloved, unheard and disconnected.

This is the view of the head of the Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong.

His comments come as Fiji Police Crime Stoppers reports show concerning numbers of missing young children, especially young girls.

On March 30, four girls between the ages of 15 and 16 were reported missing.

On April 6, three females were listed missing, including a 14‑year‑old girl.

But for the Archbishop, he said the numbers only tell part of the story.

“They are not missing home,” he said in an interview today.

“Some of these children say it is better to be on the street with friends than to stay at home. That tells you something is wrong.”

He believes many of these cases are driven by what he calls an “emotional hunger”, a deep need for love, attention and a sense of belonging.

“But when there is a lack of love, a lack of time, and no strong connection, then the home does not feel like home.”

The Archbishop pointed to busy work schedules, long hours and the growing distraction of social media as part of the problem.

“Parents come home tired, and even when they are home, they are on their phones. The time for real conversation is gone,” he said. “This affects marriage, and it affects children.”

His message to parents is simple but urgent, make time to make time for your family.