Acknowledging The Empty Space: A Framework to Enhance Support of People Left Behind When Someone is Missing

Abstract

<p>In the preparation phase for the writing this booklet, the research team (from the University of New England), including myself, Dr Sarah Wayland, and Professor Myfanwy Maple, developed a mixed methods research design. This means combining quantitative data – through an online survey – with qualitative analysis of key informant interviews, as well as a scoping review of all available literature. The study sought to explore:<p> <ul><li><i>What might be the best practice guidelines for providing crisis and ongoing counselling to families of missing people?</i></li> <li><i>What advancements have there been in the counselling field that may be relevant to families and friends of missing people in Australia?</i></li> <li><i>How can information regarding supportive interventions be conveyed appropriately to health professionals seeking to support this population group?</i></li></ul> <p>The gathering of data from individuals with lived experience had approval from the University of New England Human Research Ethics Committee (HE18-029). The scoping review of the literature followed the framework of Arksey and O’Malley (2005) in identifying therapeutic interventions, reflections on counselling and additional scope for the role of other professionals and the community in responding to families of missing people. The link for the survey was shared, with gratitude, by the FFMPU, via State and Territory police jurisdictions, via the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC), via charities such as the Missing Persons Advocacy Network (MPAN), and other social media pages who respond to the needs of families of missing people.</p> <p> As lead researcher, I also interviewed professionals working in the research or service delivery space, identifying therapeutic trends for those who required counselling support while the person was missing via key informant interviews. These interviews included the FFMPU and Ms Cecilia Hammell from the University of Wollongong, a PhD candidate currently exploring people's ability to tolerate uncertainty and the coping strategies they use to manage the emotions they are experiencing. I also had discussions with Dr Lonneke Lenferink, currently with Utrecht University. Lonneke's recent study examined mechanisms and treatment of psychopathology in people exposed to a potential traumatic loss. The final draft was reviewed by Professor Myfanwy Maple, and a sensitivity reader with lived experience was employed to ensure the booklet accurately identified the lived experience of those living in the space of ambiguity.</p> <p><i>Section One</i> provides an introduction to what typically occurs when someone is missing. I discuss how we define a missing person, how often it occurs – by relying on newly released data from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) (2017) – and I also begin to weave together what happens when we don't have answers, especially in a solution-focused society intent on solving mysteries.</p> <p><i>Section Two</i> reviews the current empirical research and grey literature available – the technical reports, information guides and support documents available to families of missing people.</p> <p><i>Section Three</i> explores the role of 'others' – the people who sit outside of the lived experience of having someone missing, such as the counsellors, police, other families and friends, and the media – and proposes ways in which they can be mindful about how to interact with families and friends of missing people. This section is highlighted for professionals and key collaborators of support to help them in the journey of support provision.</p> <p>In conclusion, and throughout the pondering of the question presented earlier, this framework reflects on the fact that there is no answer to how much a person can bear, but I am reassured that supportive interventions and social connectedness can ease the burden of <i>not knowing</i>.</p>