Autistic children at greater risk of going missing in ‘hidden crisis’, charity warns
A leading charity and senior psychologists have warned that autistic children face higher risks when lost and what they call a “hidden crisis” that requires urgent national intervention.
Missing People, the UK’s only charity dedicated to reuniting people with their loved ones, said concerns had been raised in the charity sector that children with neurodivergence may be at greater risk of going missing and may be at greater risk of harm such as abuse if lost.
But despite evidence from frontline services, the charity says there is still a lack of formal research. Early indications are that the extent of the problem may be much greater than currently available records suggest that many autistic children may be left without the specialist support they need.
As a result, Missing People calls for specific interventions to prevent young people from slipping through the gaps. Without this, autistic children at risk of becoming lost could be left with “damaging scenarios” in times of acute crisis, the charity warns.
Josie Allan, the charity’s head of policy and partnerships, said: Independent: “Autistic young people are reported missing again and again, possibly because we don’t intervene with the right support. This means people continue to suffer because we don’t know how to help them properly.”
Independent It is joining forces with Missing People to launch a new service that will be a lifeline for children in crisis. Co-designed and piloted by young people themselves, SafeCall will deliver the support, security and connection they need.
Our aim is to raise £165,000 to help fund this free service so the 70,000 children reported missing each year can be found safe no matter what. The charity currently reaches a quarter of these children, and with your support SafeCall will reach many more.
donate Here or text SAFE to 70577 to donate £10 to Missing People, enough for one child to get help.
Jane Hunter, head of research and impact at Missing People, explained that autistic people are more likely to experience factors linked to being missing, such as mental health problems and exploitation. There are also some factors inherently linked to autism that can trigger their disappearance, such as experiencing overwhelm or perhaps trusting people more easily.
The National Autistic Society (NAS) said autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. A person with autism experiences their environment differently from others; This can affect their communication skills and ability to relate to others. As the name suggests, autism is a spectrum condition, meaning people can experience it in different ways.
According to the NAS, more than one in 100 people are autistic and there are at least 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Dr. D., a clinical psychologist and visiting senior lecturer specializing in ASD and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Ann Ozsivadjian said: “We know from both research and clinical experience that autistic people are more likely to experience trauma and distress – many connections can be made here that may explain why someone gets lost and stays lost.”
When it comes to factors that could lead to an autistic young person disappearing, he emphasized the increased likelihood of facing trauma or other negative life experiences, the higher risk of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and the burnout that can result from trying to adapt to a neurotypical world.
Counseling psychologist and co-founder of the Chelsea Psychological Clinic, Dr. Elena Touroni explained that “leaving suddenly can be a way to cope or regain control.”
When an autistic teenager goes missing, Dr. “They may be more vulnerable to adversity, such as having more difficulty understanding people’s intentions, leading to abuse or exploitation. Or they may be less likely to seek help or communicate with loved ones due to communication differences or perhaps difficulty thinking flexibly. They may also have fewer protective factors, such as social networks available to them,” Ozsivadjian said.
Dr Touroni explained that predictable, calm and safe environments, where adults respond with understanding rather than judgment, “can make a real difference”.
But Ms Hunter said the response autistic young people receive from authorities when they go missing “is often very damaging and can be linked to the fact that they are autistic”.
Calling for better and more targeted support for autistic children and neurodiverse young people more broadly, Ms Hunter said: “I would be surprised if there wasn’t an over-representation of autistic people who are missing from everyone we talk to, such as frontline services and the networks we’re in. And I suspect the majority don’t get a particularly good response.”
Ms Allan said: “If you don’t know how big this over-representation is, then you can’t respond appropriately… We’re missing opportunities for prevention. And how can you help people if you don’t understand that what’s going on for them is different? You’re probably not providing good, tailored support.”
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said: “Police receive more than 1,000 missing person reports every day in the UK.
“Each report is evaluated and graded as high, medium or low risk, and appropriate resources and tactics are deployed to help locate the missing person alive and well.
“Police are aware that there may be additional risks associated with children with neurodivergence and this is reflected in the risk assessment, leading to increased police involvement.
“We have teams of police dedicated not only to investigating and searching for missing persons, but also to working with partners to address root causes, prevent repeat incidents of missing persons or tackle abuse.”
Please donate now to the SafeCall campaign launched by The Independent and the charity Missing People to help raise £165,000 to create a free service to help find vulnerable children new, safe futures.
If you or a loved one is lost, text Missing People or call 116 000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. Or visit: misspeople.org.uk/get-help
