The Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Institute is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c) (3) corporation whose mission is to promote the development and application of practice, research, and training in disaster mental health, Critical Incident Stress Management, traumatology and other emergency response interventions and the promotion of community awareness, resilience and recovery. This includes hazards vulnerability and mitigation research, planning and training for first responders, mental health professionals, chaplains and related personnel.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Institute is to provide a forum for presentation of research results, education, training and consultation in Disaster Mental Health Services (DMHS) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISD/CISM), advances in delivery of DMHS and CISD/CISM, discussion and sharing of information, ideas and plans, development of a DMHS and CISD/CISM research and service delivery network, presentation of Continuing Education training for mental health professionals, first responders and chaplains, training for newly recruited DMHS and CISD/CISM volunteers and first responders, and publication of program proceedings and papers as appropriate for dissemination to DMHS and CISD/CISM professionals and first responders locally, regionally and nationally.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Mental Health Services before, during and following disasters, critical incidents, crises, and terrorist activities are becoming an integral part of disaster and critical incident preparedness, mitigation, response, and follow-up. Disaster Mental Health Services is a relatively new field which has expanded significantly within the past ten years. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Critical Incident Stress Management have been around since the early 1980s. In order to continue to grow and meet identified needs, both will require continued development as well as focused research and training. Research will help identify how Mental Health Services can best be utilized as well as how relevant changes need to be made in practice. Networking and sharing experiences can also help develop resources.

The long-term goal includes training emergency Disaster Mental Health teams and CISM teams to conduct interventions for corporations, states, municipalities and rural communities in the Rocky Mountain region and to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing the effects of trauma on first responders and others as well as affected communities and organizations.