Autistic Youth at Greater Risk When Missing, Experts Urge Tailored Support

According to a leading charity and senior psychologists, autistic children are facing a "hidden crisis" as they are at greater risk of disappearing and experiencing harm, such as exploitation, when they go missing. Missing People, the UK's only charity dedicated to reconnecting people with their loved ones, has raised concerns that neurodivergent children could be in greater danger of going missing and are more vulnerable to threats while away from home.

However, despite mounting evidence from frontline services, the charity says there is still a stark lack of formal research on the scale of the issue. Early indications suggest the problem could be far more widespread than current records show, leaving many autistic children without the specialist support they need.

As a result, Missing People is calling for tailored interventions to prevent autistic young people from "slipping through the gaps" and being left to navigate "damaging scenarios" at times of acute crisis. Experts warn that without this, autistic children at risk of going missing may continue to be exposed to harm.