Gone Missing: A guide for those left behind

by Douglas Coop

Gone Missing discusses steps to take when somebody goes missing, conducts a search, or must deal with the media. It covers the effects on the health and wellbeing of those left behind, and how these commonly change over time, including grief and loss, and how to cope with grief. It outlines the special type of counselling required when there can be no closure, and it has a chapter discussing the behavior of missing persons. It also includes four short stories, each illustrating a common reason people go missing.

It is common for those left behind to find themselves in a sudden, unexpected and often tragic situation. To not know whether a loved one is alive or dead is a worrying and confusing time.

Those going missing far exceed the combined number of traffic fatalities, suicides, and all the injuries requiring hospitalization. In addition, it is known that each year many more go missing without their absence being officially notified. Added to this, for every person reported missing at least twelve others are affected either emotionally, psychologically, physically or financially. For many the impact is short-lived, for some it lasts a lifetime.

Whatever the cause, having no clear solution can immobilize families of those who have disappeared.

148 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2013