Supporting those who are left behind: A counselling framework to support families of missing persons

In the initial stages of the loss of a loved one, families are overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety and ambivalence about the ways in which they approach the disappearance.

When someone first disappears and is reported missing, the police and non-police search agencies are the primary support mechanisms for families. However, the initial focus is on the physical location and return of the missing person and the emotional needs of the family are often set aside while these practical issues are dealt with. While families are sometimes provided with telephone numbers for 'support', in the midst of juggling the practical details with the uncertainty of the disappearance, it is difficult for families to adequately express their needs. They don't know why, where or how a loved one has disappeared and, perhaps more importantly, they don't know how they will cope with being left behind.

How do health practitioners and professionals discover what it is that families of missing persons need in order to deal with being left behind?