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Missing persons in post-conflict settings: best practices for integrating psychosocial and scientific approaches

Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 630 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA

Tal Simmons, PhD, DABFA

Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, England, tlisimmons{at}uclan.ac.uk

Margaret Samuels, CSW

Yale University School of Medicine, Child Study Center, 53 College Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA

This paper argues the importance of establishing integrated systems to meet the needs of forensic investigations as well as the needs of families of the missing in post-conflict situations. Meeting the psychosocial needs of families to resolve uncertainty and to recover the remains of their loved ones must be part of a multidisciplinary team approach to a transparent and standardised scientific investigative protocol.

The authors present several case studies from the former Yugoslavia illustrating community-based interventions combining education projects and participation in antemortem data collection as well as providing a support network for families of the missing. The participation of the scientific investigators (pathologists, anthropologists, crime scene investigators, etc), many of whom are unprepared for the presence of family members at the scene, is critical to the success of the integrated process. Providing for and sustaining a long term follow-up programme with families, who may require ongoing mental health and social support, is also essential.

Key Words: Community • education • forensic investigation • missing persons • psychosocial intervention • transparency

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 124, No. 6, 271-275 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/146642400412400615


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