When someone goes missing, the effect it can have on their family or loved ones can be devastating: they can be left feeling angry, depressed, bewildered and often with a sense of bereavement. People go missing for many different reasons. It may be because they feel they have no choice or that their family may be ‘better off’ without them.

The act of going missing is often preceded by stressful life events such as trauma, unhappiness, depression, financial worries, abuse, arguments or domestic violence.

Some people go missing for a day, some for years; some return and sadly, some never do. Some people want to be found, some do not. Some only know they want to be found when they hear that someone is looking for them.