Missing People and Homelessness
Missing People and Homelessness
According to a report about missing people and homelessness, each year, 176,000 people, roughly 100,000 adults, and 76,000 children are reported missing. Police data shows he is likely a significant underestimate at all due to data limitations, different recording practices, incomplete data, and some people who haven’t Police reported.
Research has shown that there are clear links between homelessness and “disappearance”, including similarities between social and interpersonal factors that increase an individual’s disappearance and pathways to homelessness such as relationship breakdown, mental health, and drug use. the experience of disappearing adults and adolescents, and there are links between childhood disappearances and adult homelessness experiences.
Missing Adults
The most common reasons for adults to disappear are mental health problems, broken relationships, dementia, financial problems, or fleeing violence.
- Mental health needs
- Homelessness ·
- Problems at home ·
- Domestic violence or abuse.
- points out that around a quarter of missing adults have slept outside for a while in their absence. Many of the enforced disappearance risks are also related to unsafe shelter and homelessness, such as violence and exploitation. Experience of living in shelters or sleeping outdoors is a leading indicator of someone reporting that they have felt in danger during their absence. Mental health problems can be both a cause and a consequence of missing people. Police data show that around 50% of missing people have a mental history,
which is likely underestimated as people may not disclose their psychological needs to the police.
It suggests that about a quarter of the missing adults is sleepy for a certain period. Underestimate as people may not disclose their psychological needs to the police. Missing adults describe experiences of isolation, loneliness, and the effects it has on their mental health and wellbeing. Adults can experience deterioration in mental health while missing, and some people may attempt suicide.
One study found that a third of adults lost their lives. missing persons had attempted suicide while they were missing. Poor mental health affects people’s vulnerability during their absence, can increase the risk of harm from others and their ability to care for themselves or make safe decisions while they are gone. In addition to the physical risks, missing adults can also describe experiences of isolation, loneliness and the effects have on their psychic health and well-being.
Missing young people aged 15-17
Young people aged 15-17 make up 37% of all missing incidents reported to the police.
Abuse including domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and criminal exploitation of children, mental health needs, and living in care. As with the risk of homelessness, young people in care are particularly at risk of disappearing: one in ten young people in care disappeared, in comparison about 1 in 200 neglected children. Research has shown that young people were more likely to have repeated missed episodes, and on average the first missing incident occurred when the adolescent was 13 years old.
It is therefore important to recognize that young people who have been in contact with homeless services over the age of 16 may have had disappearances and may have been exposed to the risks associated with it, such as sleeping at night for several years. They can also be a missing person or disappear again.
What happens after a person is found?
If the missing person is over the age of 18, the police will not reveal their whereabouts to those who reported them without the person’s permission. Adults may have disappeared due to violence and conflict. , and they have the right to disappear unless they are detained under the Mental Health Act or the criminal justice system. If the person reported missing is under 18 years of age, their parents or legal guardians are usually informed of their whereabouts unless there is reason to believe that the child’s safety is at risk. As soon as it is reported that a young person has been found, the police will conduct a prevention interview (formerly known as the “Safe and Sound Check”) as soon as possible. If a young person is found, they must also be offered an independent return interview, which must take place within 72 hours of the child’s or young person’s return to their home or care facility. This is the responsibility of the local authorities and must be carried out. from someone independent, e.g. have no care obligations for the young people, in a neutral place where the young people feel safe.
Supporting a person who is missing
A person who has been reported missing may have different wants and needs and it is important to consider their experiences and the reasons for their disappearance. Different resources and support are available to miss persons depending on the wishes of the person:
Contacting the police
The police will not stop investigating a missing person until it is certain that the person is safe, there is no danger, and has conducted a security and animal welfare prevention/verification interview. Missing person campaigns are automatically stopped. The police inform the public who reported the disappearance that the missing person has had contact with the police, but do not provide any further details if the missing person does not wish to.
Become a Support Partner
Sharing information on vulnerable adults and children and the public is invaluable in finding missing people. However, sometimes the police find that public campaigns to identify certain missing persons are not appropriate or safe. Organizations can register as supporting partners and receive information about people who have disappeared in their area and can access their services. The reports contain information about the missing person and provide advice and assistance to the support partner and the missing person.
