Who is reported missing from Canadian hospitals and mental health units? Lorna Ferguson and Laura Huey Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London Ontario, Canada Abstract Purpose – International literature on missing persons suggests that a significant volume of missing person cases originate from hospitals and mental health units, resulting in considerable costs and resource demands on both police and health sectors (e.g., Bartholomew et al., 2009; Sowerby and Thomas, 2017). In the Canadian context, however, very little is known about patients reported missing from these locations – a knowledge deficit with profound implications in terms of identifying and addressing risk factors that contribute to this phenomenon. The present study is one such preliminary attempt to try to fill a significant research and policy gap. Design/methodology/approach – The authors draw on data from a sample of 8,261 closed missing person reports from a Canadian municipal police service over a five-year period (2013–2018). Using multiple logistic regression, the authors identify, among other factors, who is most likely to be reported missing from these locations. Findings – Results reveal that several factors, such as mental disabilities, senility, mental illness and addiction, are significantly related to this phenomenon. In light of these findings, the authors suggest that there is a need to develop comprehensive strategies and policies involving several stakeholders, such as health care and social service organizations, as well as the police. Originality/value – Each year, thousands of people go missing in Canada with a large number being reported from hospitals and mental health units, which can be burdensome for the police and health sectors in terms of human and financial resource allocation. Yet, very little is known about patients reported missing from health services – a knowledge deficit with profound implications in terms of identifying and addressing risk factors that contribute to this phenomenon. This manuscript seeks to remedy this gap in Canadian missing persons literature by exploring who goes missing from hospitals and mental health units. Keywords Policing, Hospital care, Mental health, Addiction, Missing persons, Police practices Paper type Research paper The phenomenon of going missing from hospitals and mental health units has been reported in the literature for decades, yet has generated significantly less scholarly attention than other types of missing person cases (Bartholomew et al., 2009; Stevenson et al., 2013). For instance, decades ago, Niskanen et al. (1974) and Crammer (1984) noted increased rates of harm experienced by those who leave from hospital wards without permission, and more recently Hayden and Shalev-Greene (2018) observed cause for alarm in the professional care practices regarding patients as a large number of people go missing from these locations. High rates of individuals reported missing from hospitals and mental health facilities should warrant concern, as it represents a significant health issue with substantial economic, social and health impacts (Muir-Cochrane and Mosel, 2008). Some of these effects, for example, are increases in suicide rates (Crammer, 1984; Niskanen et al., 1974), the potential for overdose deaths (Bowers et al., 2003), missed or loss of treatments (Bowers et al., 1998; Dickens and Campbell, 2001), self-neglect and self-harm (Hunt et al., 2010), loss of contact with health services and increases in violence and aggression (Muir-Cochrane and Mosel, 2008). Going missing from these locations also has negative consequences beyond the individual, as fears for safety can impact other patients, family members and friends, as well as service providers (Wilkie et al., 2014). For example, after a missing incident, community and family members are reported as experiencing a decreased sense of confidence Missing persons from hospitals and mental health settings 525 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/1363-951X.htm Received 16 December 2019 Revised 17 March 2020 Accepted 15 April 2020 Policing: An International Journal Vol. 43 No. 3, 2020 pp. 525-540 © Emerald Publishing Limited 1363-951X DOI 10.1108/PIJPSM-12-2019-0191