What would you say to someone who used to believe strongly in the afterlife,spirits being about,but has lost belief in everything of that nature due to REALLY tough times,they now feel everyone they loved has gone and despite trying has had no contact from them no signs nothing,and being as they were an extremely close family,finds it hard to accept that if there was anything after death they would have had a sign of some kind.

This is a natural instinct and many people go through what you are going through but bit by bit you will bacome aware, If i had a panny for everyone that had said this i would be a rich man.
Many people say especially if they know your views on the after life that if they die they will visit you from the other side bit the amount of people that have said that and never do far outweighs the ones that do communicate.
the only explanation i have is sometimes it takes a massive amount of energy to communicate and some spirit cannot do it no matter how they want to but it can be simple facts such as their spirit guides will not let them or the fact that they are communicating but you are missing all the signs, or that your guides think that you are not ready for someone who was so close to you that you would not be able to handle it.

I do not have the answers for this but Guides and spirit know more than we ever will.

Also depending on how people pass can play a massive part on how quick they come through.

Another thing is that if these people have been around for centuries then they could have passed to a higher level where they cannot communicate even though they are still aware of everything that is happening they will not come through.

Also do not forget that up there is not like a telephone system and they will not come through when you want them to, they will do it when they are ready and most of the time it is when you least expect it.

I hope this answers some of the things you have asked.