Missing people chat service launched after demand soars

A charity for missing people has launched an online chat service for vulnerable adults in response to rising demand and cases of increased severity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Phone calls to the national Missing People helpline have risen more than a third (39 per cent) in a year, from just under 1,000 calls between 2019-2020 to 1,384 recorded over the following year. overall, the number of adults helped by the charity has jumped 16% over the same period, from 2,373 to 2,747 adults.

An increasing number of these people were assessed as being at serious risk, it said – a trend which has continued throughout 2021.

The charity, which reunites families in the UK, has launched the chat service after it noted a 13 per cent rise in adults using its existing service intended for children and young people.

The new service is confidenti al, anonymous, non- judgment al and free.

Sophie Lapham, director of services at missing people, said: "Over the past year or so, in particular, we have been speaking to people who have felt' like they just want to disappear' or 'feel trapped' and 'need to get away'.

"They say they' don' t want to be here anymore' and feel like their families and friends 'would be better off without them'. These are their words."

She added: "More people prefer the speed and anonymity of instant chat, particularly young adults. We want to make it as easy as possible for people in crisis to get the help they need."

The charity said people go missing or think about disappearing for multiple reasons, but poor mental health is a common factor in most scenarios.

Ju Blencowe, who went missing in 2017 during a mental health crisis following the death of her mother, said the new servicecould" build a bridge to others who feel like I once did ".

Increasingly police are asking the charity to text a missing person through its suicide risk Text safe, and broader text safe services.

This involves the charity texting a missing person with its contact details and details of The Samaritans.

For help, advice or support, or to pass on information about a missing person, you can call or text Missing People, confidentially, on 116000, email 116000@missingpeople.org.uk or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help to access Online Chat.