How to Find a Missing Person with Mental Illness?

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Finding a Missing Loved One – Najar Investigations

To witness a loved one go missing is an absolutely terrifying incident in itself. The fear triples when the person is also a patient of some kind of mental illness. Finding a mentally ill loved one can be very challenging and emotionally overwhelming. It is, therefore, necessary to know how to deal in situations of such emergency.

Following is our simple guide on how to find a missing person with mental illness.

Understand and Analyze the Situation

When a loved one goes missing, the first step you need to take is having control over your emotions. At times like this, action becomes more important than the emotions that grasp you.

Understanding and analyzing the entire situation plays a key role in helping you reach the missing person.

You need to keep in mind the seriousness of circumstances, especially when the missing individual is also mentally ill. Firstly, consider the kind of mental disorder the person has. Next up, think of the possible places that the person might have gone to based on their past behaviours. Analyze how long he / she has been missing for. In short, evaluate the event from all aspects to take the action accordingly.

Take Swift Action and Preventive Measures

Whatever you have to do, do it immediately. A missing person with mental health issues is a grave danger and needs to be tackled in time. Starting the search and investigation in time increases the chances of recovery without any major mishap. 

As soon as you hear the news of your loved one gone missing, take all prompt steps at the moment. You can do this by calling your neighbours and friends, by engaging the community with you, by calling the police department, by posting it on social media and by distributing flyers across the area. After that, look for a trusted and proficient investigator specializing in finding missing persons. 

Najar Investigations has a dedicated team of missing persons investigators, who can help you trace the location of your mentally ill missing loved ones. 

Seek Help from Friends and Other Family Members

Apart from your immediate family members, try reaching out to extended family members or extended relatives, who you think can help you in a situation like this. Contact friends of the missing person and ask if they know anything about their absence. Prefer reaching out to people with whom the person is mostly connected with.

Contact Local Authorities and Agencies

Contact the local authorities in your area for immediate assistance. In most cases, the police are the first option to be available. Submit the missing person report to make all the information clear to them and let them begin the task on their own.

Search for them in Nearby Places

Look for them in nearby homes, parks, libraries, shops, and even homeless shelters. A lot of times, such individuals are seen wandering on the road or taking shelter in a mental asylum. This is the easiest and basic step you can take when someone goes missing.

Distribute Flyers and Spread the Message

Put all the relevant information such as photographs, contact information, appearance etc on a flyer. Distribute the flyers everywhere and paste them in your vicinity. Ask people if they have seen someone similar to what you’re describing. The act of spreading the message in a human way can aid you a lot in getting reunited with your loved ones.

Use Social Media and Online Resources

These days, nothing can beat the power of social media. The news posted on social media platforms engages millions of people and is spread quickly across cities and even countries. Sharing the story on Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter etc will help you a lot in getting to the missing person. 

Utilize Community Services

Engage with different government or non-governmental mental health organizations in order to become able to take better steps. Seek help from websites and online tools such as National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) and National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

Hire a Trusted Private Investigator

One of the best steps to take in such matters is quickly finding a reliable and committed private investigator. Private investigators for missing persons can work in close confidentiality and responsibility to help you reach the desired person. They are professionals with extensive knowledge in the fields of investigation, law, human psychology etc. These expertise surpass every other means of finding a mentally ill missing individual.

At Najar Investigations, we understand the urgency of such circumstances and provide you with a team of private investigators with a good record of tracking down missing persons with mental health disorders.

Consult a Mental Health Professional

Mental health disorders can be of various kinds and forms. It is extremely hard for a layman to deal with people with such illness. Mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, severe depression and anxiety are more common in adults while the elderly mostly suffer from issues like schizophrenia and other cognitive impairments. Hence, consulting a mental health professional is a wise choice in such cases.

People with mental impairments and failures behave in ways that are not normal. Only a professional expert has the right knowledge and skills to deal with such people. Make sure to seek help from certified and reputable doctors, so that the patients don’t feel threatened and the risks are eliminated.