Addressing the Mental Health Impact of Enforced Disappearances: A Call for Research and Action

Dr. Anis Ahmed, a clinical psychiatrist at Aston Medical School, has highlighted the unique mental health challenges faced by victims of enforced disappearances in a recent collaborative publication. The United Nations defines enforced disappearance as the arrest, detention, abduction, or any deprivation of liberty carried out by state agents or individuals acting with state approval. This alarming human rights violation affects thousands worldwide, with historical instances like Argentina's 'Dirty War' (1976–1983), where approximately 30,000 individuals went missing, and ongoing conflicts such as in Syria, where tens of thousands are still unaccounted for.

Victims and their families experience what is known as ambiguous loss— a state of prolonged uncertainty where loved ones are neither confirmed dead nor found alive—leading to persistent grief, chronic depression, anxiety, and sometimes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The trauma is compounded by the absence of traditional mourning rituals, as families are trapped in a painful limbo, unable to grieve or find closure. When victims reappear, they face additional psychological and social hurdles, including trust issues, hypervigilance, shame, and social stigma.

Research by Dr. Ahmed and Professor Andrew Forrester from Cardiff University emphasizes that the psychological impact of enforced disappearances remains inadequately explored. There is an urgent need for evidence-based mental health interventions and guidelines specifically tailored to this context. Currently, political, safety, and cultural barriers hinder comprehensive research—fear of reprisals deters victims and families from speaking openly, and mental health professionals may hesitate to engage fully for safety reasons.

The authors advocate for initial research to determine the prevalence and psychological effects of enforced disappearances across different regions. Following this, targeted therapeutic interventions should be developed and tested. They also urge mental health professionals to advocate for policy reforms that recognize victims’ rights, provide access to services, and enable justice without fear of persecution. International collaboration among psychiatric associations, human rights organizations, and trauma experts is essential to close this critical gap.

Upcoming efforts include an international conference in London on August 29, 2025, titled "Healing the Unseen Scars: Mental Health Responses to Enforced Disappearances," in observance of World Enforced Disappearances Day. Dr. Ahmed is also working with victims, families, and mental health practitioners in Bangladesh to create research and policy recommendations aimed at improving support and treatment options.

This pressing issue calls for a multidisciplinary approach, addressing both psychological needs and human rights concerns, to ensure that victims and their families receive the care, acknowledgment, and justice they deserve.