But as the search goes on and, more often than not, the missing person is found or returns, there is one important voice missing. That of the individual who disappeared.
"More than 38,000 Australians go missing each year and in 98% of cases they come back," says UNE researcher Dr Sarah Wayland. "There's strong media interest in missing persons stories, but the narratives of the returned largely remain untold."
Sarah analysed 2400 media reports across the country and found that they very rarely include the lived experiences and voices of the missing. This is particularly poignant when you consider how much of their privacy has been compromised.
"There's this real disconnect that negates the experiences and diminishes the voices of the missing," Sarah says.
"There's no closing the loop of the media discussion, no update that says the person was located and reasons given for their disappearance. It's a real opportunity to positively affect the quality of that person's life and help reduce the chances of repeat disappearances, as well as raise awareness of this public health issue."
While conceding that most audiences simply want to know that the person has been found safe, and that not all returning persons will seek media attention, Sarah believes they should at least be asked, to test the level of public interest.
"Nobody ever writes about it, so how do we know people won't be interested?" Sarah asks.
"Not every media outlet is going to want to tell those stories but some might, to explore the complexities of the journeys these people go on. Some people have very valid reasons for going missing: for some, it's about escaping abuse and neglect, for others it's about complex mental health."
Respondents to an online survey Sarah has posted, to allow missing people to comment anonymously, have revealed feelings of shame and stigma. "Many are concerned about how they are perceived by the broader community, but they are never given the chance to share how they feel," she says.
Sarah says her studies are calling into question whether media and police guidelines for how missing persons are reported and portrayed need to be reviewed, as well as the adequacy of support services for those who return. Her report has just been published in the International Police Journal -Theory, Practice and Principles.
