Larysa Rybyk

NGO , Ukraine

Presentation Title:

Life in hope: Psychological specificities of supporting families of missing persons

Abstract

This presentation addresses the psychological dynamics of ambiguous loss in families of missing persons, a phenomenon characterized by the coexistence of hope and despair, which blocks the natural course of grief. Drawing on the conceptual framework of Pauline Boss and enriched by original Ukrainian empirical data from the ongoing war, the study explores the systemic, familial, and social consequences of prolonged uncertainty. Particular attention is paid to disenfranchised grief, when society does not fully recognize or validate the loss, leaving families socially isolated. The paper outlines the multidimensional impact of ambiguous loss—cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and somatic—and its cascading effects on family roles, communication, and resilience. Case studies illustrate how unresolved absence destabilizes both individual coping and systemic adaptation. In addition to theoretical analysis, the presentation introduces evidence-based practices for psychological support, including psychoeducational models and structured group interventions designed specifically for families of the missing. These interventions aim not to replace hope with closure, but to provide a sustainable framework for living through uncertainty, maintaining functionality, and preserving social bonds. The Ukrainian case contributes unique empirical material to the global discourse on ambiguous loss, offering insights into how war-related disappearances transform psychological support needs. This work argues for the inclusion of ambiguous loss and disenfranchised grief into international mental health frameworks and underlines the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration in refining models of care.

Biography

Larysa Rybyk is a Ukrainian psychologist specializing in grief and bereavement, with a Ph.D. in Legal Psychology. She is the Founder and President of the International Association for Grief and Bereavement Support and has developed educational programs and therapeutic tools widely implemented in Ukraine and internationally. Her recent monograph Life in Hope. Peculiarities of Psychological Support for Families of Missing Persons (2024) provides one of the first systematic frameworks for understanding ambiguous loss in war contexts. She has also authored self-help journals, therapeutic storybooks, and validated programs for psychological support in coping with loss. Rybyk has led international initiatives including the “Grief Therapy Forum” (2023–2025), trauma-informed training in de-occupied areas, and the creation of national standards for grief support. Her professional trajectory is deeply rooted in both academic research and lived experience of loss, shaping her commitment to advancing grief psychology as a scientific and practical field. She lectures internationally and collaborates with research institutions and NGOs across Europe on resilience, trauma, and bereavement.

5th World Congress on Primary Healthcare and Medicare Summit

Larysa Rybyk

Presentation Title:

Life in hope: Psychological specificities of supporting families of missing persons

Abstract

Biography

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