Events around the world continue to present challenges for first responders and mental
health professionals. Natural and man-made disasters continue. Evidence mounts concerning
potential events such as global warming and the effects this may have worldwide. Avian Flu
remains a concern as do forms of biological terrorism and natural hazards such as tsunamis,
floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. The 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka and Thailand continues to
have a significant impact on that area of the world. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to
impact those countries, the Middle East and the United States. Preparing our communities and
families not only for deployments and support of those deployed and their families, but also
for the aftermath and return of our military and National Guard personnel into our communities
is important for all.

What can we expect from all of these? How do communities and first responders handle
these? What role does mental health play? How do first responders and mental health professionals
plan together for responding to future events and learning from past ones. Using a
strategic planning approach, how do we identity potential threats and identify target populations
and groups? What resources are available for which identified threats? How do we do
such planning, how often, and how do we exercise such plans prior to events? What can we
learn from such events and how do we incorporate what we learn into future planning?

It is crucial that response, resilience, recovery and follow-up be included in our planning.
Additional variables important in responding include cultural knowledge and sensitivity. We
need to prepare to respond appropriately within a culture not our own, whether locally,
nationally, or internationally.

November 8-10, 2007, the Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Institute held
their Annual Disaster Mental Health Conference in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The theme of this
conference was: From Crisis To Recovery: Resilience and Strategic Planning for the Future.


RM DMH Institute Press

PO Box 786

Laramie, WY 82073-0786

Phone: 307-399-4818

www.rmrinstitute.org


"Learning from the past and planning for the future"


An Imprint of Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com