If you might be a missing person and you're not ready to speak to your family and friends directly, write to them or contact somebody close to them because they just need to get the message that you are safe and well. People of any age can be reported as missing. Being a missing person is not a crime. There are many reasons why people go missing. Two thirds of the 28,500 people reported as missing each year are under 18 years old.
Teenagers often go missing due to family conflict or a desire to establish independence.
Families and friends of missing people are often extremely anxious to know whether the person they love is alive and well. The Christmas 1999 campaign encouraged people to keep in contact with their family during the holiday period.