The intent and purpose of the Behavioral Health Strike Team (BHST) is to quickly deploy trained individuals from a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and the Office of Disaster Services (ODS) and establish communications with the impacted region/county/city/facility to determine the level of trauma and develop a strategy to deliver psychological first aid to survivors and first responders. The ODS and the CMHC will form the BHST and develop the most effective way to provide behavioral health support to survivors, responders, and other disaster workers. Additionally, the BHST will work directly with other state agencies to coordinate other state or federal assistance if required.
If interested in becoming trained for the BHST, please contact Alyssa Backes, Deputy Director of the Office of Disaster Services at Alyssa.Backes@dmh.mo.gov
- More information on the Behavioral Health Strike Team