At Missing People we are currently conducting research to find out more about the experiences of adults who have been missing or away.
We would like to understand more about why adults go missing or away, as well as what happens while they are missing. There is currently very limited research about missing adults, meaning that there is little evidence about what support adults may need before, while being missing, and after return. We hope to increase the understanding of the experiences of missing adults, and to use these findings to advocate for better support for adults.
You might not consider yourself to have been ‘missing’, so we also mean when people leave where they have been living or staying without telling or being able to tell other people where they have gone. This might be described as ‘going missing,’ ‘disappearing,’ ‘running away,’ ‘going absent,’ or ‘taking time out.’ This might include being away from home, care, a hospital, or a mental health care setting. Whatever you call it, we want to hear from you.
This survey will ask you questions including:
Responses to the survey are anonymous, strictly confidential, and will be stored securely and only accessible by the research team at Missing People. You will not be identifiable in any internal or external report based on responses to this survey.
This survey will take around 10 minutes to complete. You can find the survey here.
We are also hoping to conduct interviews with adults who have been missing. If you would like to share your experience with us via interview, please do contact the research team at Missing People via research@missingpeople.org.uk. There will also be the chance to give your contact details at the end of this survey.
Please note that this survey may be triggering: we are asking questions about what is potentially a harmful or negative experience. You are under no obligation to complete this survey, and if you do feel like you need to talk to someone as a result, here are some organisations you may wish to contact:
Missing People: phone or text 116 000, e-mail 116000@missingpeople.org
Mind: phone 0300 123 3393
Shout: text 85258
We have launched a regular email so that you can be aware of new missing person appeals and share them far and wide! We are also calling on all Heroes to be the eyes and ears for Missing People on the ground. Your sighting of a missing person could make a difference in a crucial time.
