When someone goes missing, it can personally impact a number of people around them. Everyone affected by the disappearance could experience strong emotions such as worry, despair and frustration. At times like these, family, friends and close communities can look after each other and support each other.
Contact law enforcement in person, over the phone, or online to file a missing person report. Provide as much information as possible about the missing loved one. This includes their last known whereabouts, places they like to go, and friends or relatives who may have been in contact with them.
A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly.
Feeling distracted. Having intrusive thoughts. Having physical symptoms such as stomach upset or headaches. Having difficulty staying or falling asleep.
Changes in brain chemistry: Scientific studies indicate that your brain reacts significantly when you're missing someone you love: The oxytocin and dopamine that's released during a relationship suddenly stop flowing. You become chemically dependent on their presence in your life.
The reasons for going missing are many and varied and can include mental illness, miscommunication, misadventure, domestic violence, and being a victim of crime. While there are inherent risks attached to any missing event, specific population groups are recognised as particularly vulnerable to harm while missing.
Anyone who is reported missing to police, whose whereabouts are unknown, and there are fears for the safety or concern for the welfare of that person.
"When you miss someone, it means you really care about the person and you value them," says Katie Lasson, Clinical Sexologist & Relationship Advisor. "You need this person in your life because it makes you feel better and you are happier.
If you can't think of something to say, just offer eye contact, a squeeze of the hand, or a reassuring hug. Offer your support. Ask what you can do for the grieving person. Offer to help with a specific task, such as helping with funeral arrangements, or just be there to hang out with or as a shoulder to cry on.
Learning to cope with missing someone may take a few weeks to a few months, depending on the relationship and your coping mechanisms.
The Australian Red Cross provides a free tracing service to help with finding relatives missing through wars, internal conflict, migration and/or natural disasters. The Australian Red Cross is part of the global Restoring Family Links network.
Contact the police as soon as possible to report that you believe you've found a vulnerable person. It might help to wait with them in a café, shop or other public place so they feel safe.
The missing person's full name, date of birth, and social security number. Details of where and when they were last seen or heard from. Details of any vehicle that may be involved. Any known travel plans or destinations.
What were the missing person's plans and/or activities on the day they went missing? Where was he/she going? Why was he/she going there? If the individual was traveling by car, provide the make and model number, license plate number, as well as registration (if possible).
in crime and criminal justice
Each year, around 30,000 people are reported missing in Australia—one person every 18 minutes.
The ten states with the most missing persons are California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, New York, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. California is the state with the most missing persons with 2,133 reported cases. Florida has the second highest number of missing persons with 1,252 cases reported.
There are currently about 2,600 long-term missing persons cases in Australia and experts estimate there are some 500 unidentified human remains archived around the country.
The winter months of December, January and February accounted for more than half (53 per cent) of fatal disappearances, with one fifth (22 per cent) going missing in December.
The feeling of missing someone is essentially a feeling of love for that person. What is this? In the early stages of relationships, the feeling of missing someone might not be that intense. You might only miss someone on a day-to-day basis, but it's still a feeling of missing them.
You may feel a little sick
That's your body's way of telling you that you really like that person. “Lovesickness may actually be the stress hormone cortisol contracting the blood vessels in your stomach, making you feel sick,” Dr.