Missing teen struggled with his mental health, says brother

A missing teenager had been struggling with his mental health "for a while", his brother has said.

Cole Cooper, 19, hasn't been heard from since he went on a night out with friends in Falkirk on 3 May.

His older brother Connor told BBC Newsbeat that Cole had experienced suicidal thoughts and depression before his disappearance.

Connor, 22, said his family had tried to offer support but it had been rejected.

"That's the difficult bit for me as his brother," Connor said.

"Just because I'm preparing for the worst, and I just wish he would take that help that we offered."

Cole was officially reported missing on Friday 9 May, and the last-known CCTV footage of him was recorded on the morning of 4 May.

Connor said it had been suggested to him that Cole might have taken "time out" for his mental health, but he didn't feel that explained his brother's long absence.

"It didn't sit right with me," he said.

"I can get that if you're in that state of mind you might want to escape reality.

"But four weeks down the line is where it gets a lot more concerning."

Police Scotland said Cole had not used his phone or bank cards in the time he'd been missing - something Connor said he found particularly worrying.

A witness, who told police they knew Cole, reported seeing him on 7 May in Longcroft, near his home village of Banknock.

Connor says he has questions about the sighting.

"We've not got footage to back it up," said Connor.

"As well as that, I just don't believe you go missing, pop up three or four days later and go missing again."

Officers have visited more than 200 homes and obtained more than 1,000 hours of CCTV footage.

Search teams, helicopters, drones and divers have also searched the local area.

Cole's family have carried out their own searches, with one taking place on Sunday.

"Your mind plays tricks on you at times when you're out looking," Connor said.

"Because you're looking back and going 'did I see something or not?'.

"You get that bad feeling in your stomach.

"You're needing to mentally prepare yourself, not just coming across maybe a phone or his wallet, but you're preparing yourself going into these areas thinking, 'could we find Cole?'."

Connor said the community searches have looked in canal areas, woodland and fields.

He said the past month had been "hell" for Cole's family and friends.

"It's brutal. I wouldn't wish this on anyone," he said.

3 May: Cole was on a night out with friends.

4 May: He was captured on CCTV multiple times around Nisbet Drive, Longcroft Road and Hogan Path in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He was seen approaching the door of his father's house at 05:49 before leaving four minutes later.

The last CCTV footage of Cole was at 06:00 on Cumbernauld Road.

• Police 'increasingly concerned' for missing Cole Cooper
• Family and friends lead search for missing Falkirk teenager

7 May: A witness said they saw Cole at around 20:45 on the A803 at the Intersection with Cumbernauld Road, Longcroft.

Cole had been living in Falkirk and is known to have links to the Denny, Cumbernauld and Paisley areas.

Police say any information, including photographs, CCTV or dashcam footage, should be sent to them through an online portal.

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story sources of help can be found via BBC Action Line.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.