The principal focus of this team is to minimize the harmful psychological effects of stress and trauma on individuals during and after a disaster. The Behavioral Health Response Team provides mental health support to survivors, emergency responders, and the larger community in the event of a disaster.
Team Leads: Tai Mendenhall and Joy Johnson-Lind
Team Member Roles and Responsibilities
Team Member Roles
- Provide behavioral health support to the general public or target groups during MRC deployments including but not limited to:
- Point of Dispensing/Mass Dispensing Site
- Staff Staging Areas
- Campus/Family Assistance Centers
- Off campus deployment sites
- Other
- Provide support to MRC members during and after deployments
This team is made up of members with both clinical licensure and non-clinical/unlicensed individuals.
Team Member Responsibilities
- Training
- Orientation to the U of M Medical Reserve Corps Program (2025)
- MRC 101 (2025)
- PODS (Points of Dispensing): Public Health Training for Staff and Volunteers
- The National Incident Management System (NIMS) & the Incident Command System (ICS): A Primer for Volunteers (2024)
- Psychological First Aid: A Community Supported Model (2024)
- Stay Current on MRC Activities by reading MRC newsletters and visiting the MRC website
- Attend 1-2 team meetings a year
Team Member Time Commitment
- Attend a minimum of 1 team meeting per year
- Time commitment during actual responses/deployments will vary
- Participate in drills and exercises when available
- Participate in MRC deployments when available
- View on-line training modules listed above (1 hour for each module)