Thoughts on training guidelines in emergency mental health and crisis intervention

Given the terrorist attacks in Oklahoma City, Washington, D.C., and New York City, there has been increased interest in the provision of emergency mental health services, especially disaster mental health. Rather remarkably, however, there is a paucity of formal emergency mental health training programs. As a result, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers have found themselves thrust into situations where they have been expected to provide emergency mental health services in the absence of formalized training. Herein follows a discussion of what may be argued to be five core competencies in the provision of emergency mental health services. These guidelines may be of value to those interested in assessing existing training programs, or those interested in developing new training programs in emergency mental health and crisis intervention.