Classmates of missing schoolboy Liam Smith are being offered counselling as the search for him enters its third week.
The 16-year-old is a student at Westhill Academy and Aberdeenshire Council has said staff are offering support to fellow pupils who are struggling to cope with his disappearance.
“We are continuing to support pupils and staff at Westhill Academy through a difficult time as the search for Liam continues,” a spokeswoman for the local authority said.
“Guidance support is available to any young person who may wish to access one-on-one advice.
“We would encourage anyone with information to contact the police on 101 and will continue to support inquiries in any way we can.”
Liam has not been seen since November 17 and police divers were deployed to the River Dee at Crathes and the Crathes Castle Estate as the search continued last week.
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Police said the public response to their appeals for information had been “unprecedented”.
Kind members of the public have even provided officers in the area with home bakes and other food as they work through “challenging” ground conditions.
Liam was last seen at 1.11pm on November 17 at the Union Square bus station in Aberdeen boarding a Stagecoach 202 service bound for Deeside.
One passenger told police Liam got off in Crathes – the scene of intensive police search activity since that information came to light on November 23.
Police now say there was a “credible” sighting of Liam on the Crathes Estate on the day he caught the bus.
Officers want to hear from two people who boarded the bus outside the Run 4 It shop on Holburn Street as they had also bought tickets to Banchory and could hold key information.
Liam is white, around 6ft 4in tall and of slim build and has short brown hair. He also walks with a distinctive gait.
When last seen, he was carrying a camouflage North Face rucksack and was wearing Nike Air Max trainers.
