Hi all,
I’m a guardian in Belgium. One of the minors I’m responsible for (15 years old) didn’t return to the shelter yesterday and hasn’t been reachable since. The authorities have been informed and I am in contact with the shelter, but I feel stuck and worried.
Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?
What steps did you take?
Thank you,
Élodie
Hi Elodie,
I’m really sorry to hear this.I can imagine how worrying and frustrating it must feel not knowing where he is and feeling powerless to help.
In similar situations, I’ve found it helpful to keep the lines of communication as open as possible, both with the shelter and with anyone in his network who might have seen or heard from him. Sometimes friends or classmates or so can have some information that can make a big difference…
Perhaps, you can let him know through text that you’re worried and simply want to know he’s safe, without focusing on consequences. That can lower the threshold for him to respond. Might also be good to keep documenting what you’ve done and who you’ve spoken to, so you and the authorities have a clear overview.
And don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Situations like this can be quite heavy, and leaning on colleagues or others who understand can make a difference.
I truly hope you hear from him soon.
Greetings,
Kasia
