The way for Sri Lanka as a people and nation

Prof. Shehan Williams and Dr. Amila Isuru show the way how to support the families of the missing and disappeared.

At an individual level, they have to be helped to overcome the psychological impact through therapy by getting them to believe or be convinced that the person is no more, they say, pointing out that this has to be reinforced at community and national levels.

Such families also need to be shown that the authorities have done everything possible to find the missing persons and render adequate compensation as most of them are facing financial hardship, says Prof. Williams.

Dr. Amila adds that they need to feel that they are not “unique”, they are not alone but that there are many others in a similar situation. They need to be provided a platform to share their problems and sorrows.

These are a few ways that they can deal with their “ambiguous loss” and get on with their lives which they have put on hold.

Both Psychiatrists point out that the disappearance of a family member leads to uncertainty and inhibits the normal grieving process that occurs following the death of a person. The families need to be supported by psychological services to prevent, identify early and treat the associated psychological morbidity. The government and greater civil society need to enable mechanisms that facilitate closure for these families.