Training for Staff of the Missing Persons Office
A specialized training program on trauma-informed communication has been completed by personnel from the Office for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances (part of the Ombudsman’s Secretariat), operators of the Ombudsman’s hotline, and staff from Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs hotline. The course focused on how to interact with families enduring uncertainty and loss. Key topics covered included:
- resilience
- stress management
- neurophysiology of stress and trauma
- emotional self-regulation
- psychological support during crisis communication
Separate sessions addressed vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. One module explored the balance between empathy and professional responsibility—an essential skill for those who work daily with families of missing persons. This training will enable staff to offer better support to people in distress and improve the overall quality of their work.
Professional Development for Staff
Enhancing the skills of employees who work with families of missing persons is especially critical amid the humanitarian crisis facing the country. This training, designed to build psycho-emotional support capabilities, aims not only to reduce stress among staff but also to ensure more effective assistance for those going through difficult times. Better-prepared personnel can strengthen their own mental resilience and well-being, which is vital in such challenging circumstances.