Emotional help for families

We're here to help you cope with the emotional impacts and experiences of missing someone.

Coping emotionally

Not knowing where someone is or when you will see them again, and living day to day waiting for news, is an experience that can be painful to endure.

People who have experienced someone go missing describe the feeling as physical, stomach churning with feelings of dread and panic. Many people struggle with the loss of control.

It may feel hard to focus, whilst also being a very busy time with lots to think about. Some struggle to eat or sleep. Many people explain they feel hopeful for news and for their loved one to return. Others experience feelings of grief and despair while they wait for the sad news they expect. Many people tell us that they feel all of these things at different times.

When someone stays missing for a long time, the unresolved nature of loss, means people often feel stuck. When someone does return, families have also described feelings such as relief, anger, guilt, frustration and worry.

We’re here to support you, for free and in confidence. Call or text 116 000.

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Helpful Guides

Keeping well while you wait

We know it’s hard carrying on with normal life while waiting for someone to come back. Read our guidance, and advice from other family members.

Talking to others about your missing person

Read our tips on how to explain what has happened to your community and networks.

How families and friends can help when someone goes missing

Read more about how to help and care for people when someone in their life goes missing.

Remembering them on significant dates

Read about how you may wish to mark difficult dates such as birthdays, anniversaries and the day they went missing.

Worrying that someone might go missing again

Find out what you can do if you are concerned about your loved one because you think they might leave again.

About ambiguous loss

Read more about the unique type of loss that people experience when someone they care about is missing.

Coping with 'missing' as a child

We know lots of households who report a missing person, have children within them, and that the impact of worrying about someone being missing can be significant for a child.

Getting involved in the Missing People community

Find out more about our community of families and formerly missing people who connect with each other to provide support, advice and a listening ear.

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Other helpful stuff

Sign up to be a Digital Search Hero

Sign up for emails highlighting missing appeals, information on how to share the appeals, and more information about our work. It is free to join and you can unsubscribe at any time. Find out more.