Samantha Murphy disappearance theories unhelpful, says The Missed Foundation's Loren O'Keeffe

Loren O’Keeffe says community support is important for families of missing people. (Supplied: Maricarmen Rubí Baeza)

What is it like to have a loved one go missing?

For Loren O’Keeffe, it has been more than 12 years since her brother Daniel went missing from their Geelong home.

She said the feeling remained difficult to articulate.

“It is one of those scenarios no one is ever prepared to find themselves in,” she said.

“It’s psychological torture, day in, day out, imagining every possible scenario regardless of how plausible or implausible it may be.

“For our family, it was the response of the community that got us through, feeling that care and compassion.”

Ms O’Keeffe is chief executive of The Missed Foundation, a charity which supports the families of long-term missing people.

She founded the charity in 2013 after her family experienced a lack of guidance and support when her brother went missing.

The charity supports more than 80 families of long-term missing people across Australia.

Ms O’Keeffe has been following the case of Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy since her disappearance almost two weeks ago.

The 51-year-old mother of three left her Ballarat East home for her regular morning run on February 4 and failed to return home.

Police said they had no leads and there was no trace of Ms Murphy.

Ms O’Keeffe said it was important people in the Ballarat community remained hopeful and united in their support for the search and Ms Murphy’s family.

How people can help 

The Missed Foundation has created a guide which provides advice and a checklist of actions for people close to the missing person and their family in the short and long-term after the disappearance.

Actions range from practical ways to continue the search and campaign for a missing loved one to supporting the affected family with everyday tasks such as laundry, cleaning and cooking.

Ms O’Keeffe said it was important for everyone to gain an insight into what it was like when a loved one went missing.

She said the foundation offered a free online masterclass on ambiguous loss, the term used to describe the particular type of grief associated with missing a loved one.

“It is considered to be by psychologists all around the world one of the most traumatic types of loss and one of the most unmanageable forms of stress,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“You are in this constant state of unending not knowing and the continual nature of that many experts have likened to PTSD.

“Humans aren’t programmed to cope with uncertainty … it is really difficult to continue living a normal life when you don’t know where your loved one is.”

Ms O’Keeffe said ambiguous loss was different to bereavement and The Missed Foundation had advocated for mental health professionals to better understand the difference.

“It doesn’t get easier over time like the death of a loved one can,” she said.

Australian Federal Police data shows about 150 Australians go missing every day.

While 90 per cent of people are found safe and well within a week, about one per cent will remain missing long term.

Data analysis shows about 85 per cent of missing persons cases in Australia pertain to mental health and about one to two per cent are criminal in nature.

‘Unprecedented’ response

Victoria Police says the investigation and search for Ms Murphy is ongoing.

Detectives are following up hundreds of pieces of information, including the review of supplied CCTV footage.

Police say there is no evidence to indicate anything sinister behind Ms Murphy’s disappearance.

Some Ballarat community members are conducting their own searches in the Woowookarung Regional Park and other areas Ms Murphy was known to run.

Ms O’Keeffe said the community response in Ballarat was unprecedented but it was important people’s interest and involvement didn’t become unhelpful.

“Most importantly it is around not confusing this traumatic event with being a source of gossip or entertainment because speculation does untold damage to families,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“It’s really important people don’t engage with sharing theories, especially publicly.”

Ms O’Keeffe said people shouldn’t expect police to take care of every single element of a disappearance.

“Missing persons is a community issue, it goes well beyond the remit of police,” she said.

“It really does deserve to be addressed collaboratively with all levels of government, the corporate sector, media, emergency services and of course people power plays a huge role.”

Ms O’Keeffe asked people not to judge the family and to not stop caring once the media interest faded.

“If you do see a family member at the shops or down the street, don’t treat them differently, don’t be awkward, don’t let your discomfort get in the way of being kind and compassionate,” she said.

Community issue 

Research shows at least 12 people are adversely impacted when one person goes missing.

Ms O’Keeffe said that was likely a conservative estimate.

“This all comes down to the fact it is a community issue and missing people aren’t just news stories, they are people who are missed desperately by the family, their community, their colleagues, their friends,” she said.

“That has an impact not just on the immediate circle but everyone in a place like Ballarat.

“There is this great sense of incompleteness because one of their citizens is not there.

“There is this huge responsibility to find them for the sake of the family and everyone who knows and loves and misses Samantha.

“It is really important the community stays united and positive and shows that support and care for Samantha and her family, but also they talk about the really complex feelings they might be having as a result of this cloud of uncertainty.”