How do you answer and comfort your children in the wake of the disappearance of three-year-old WIlliam Tyrell?
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This information comes from a document called "In the Loop, young people talking about Missing" from the NSW Justice Department, to assist in talking to children about "missing" and "not knowing".
- Keep your explanations simple and truthful. Stick to the information that's known
- It's alright to say 'I don't know' if you really don't know
- Don't make things up in an attempt to be reassuring; or try to guess what has happened
- It's alright for young people to see you upset. It gives them permission to be honest in expressing their emotions
- Young people usually know when the adults around them are upset and worried. Trying to hide what you're feeling can lead to young people feeling excluded and can cause more anxiety.
- Young people may try to fill in the gaps if they're not kept informed about what is happening. If they fear information is being withheld they may imagine it's too awful for them to be told the truth. Their imaginations may lead them to images and conclusions that are vivid and disturbing when there is no evidence to support this
- Reassure your child that you're not going anywhere. Young people may worry that if this can happen to someone they care about, it can also happen to another person close to them
How long will it last? What has happened to the missing person? Why did they go? These questions can come from someone experiencing 'ambiguous loss'. There are few clear answers and it is difficult to understand and explain.
For assistance - adults and children:
Families and Friends of Missing Persons Unit counsellor (business hours) 1800 227 772
Community Health Mental Health Access Line 1800 011 511 (24 hours)
Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
