Mission Statement

Our mission is to increase the scientific rigor of the field of disaster research. It has been our experience that disaster researchers often come into the field after an event has affected their community. As a result, research in the field tends to be redundant (with investigators asking the same questions) and lacks a systematic approach.

REDMH is an educational program that aims to produce investigators who conscientiously and proactively attend to the meanings, interpretations, and uses of their research. Because of the complexities of disasters and the multiple layers of factors (biological, psychological, social, cultural, political, economic) that influence mental health, we propose that disaster research education must be multi-disciplinary and multi-method in order to achieve this long-term goal.

Toward this end, REDMH brings together a diverse panel of experts who represent a range of disciplinary perspectives, research skills, cultural understandings, and real-world experiences. By the sheer act of coming together to work toward this common goal, the panelists model interdisciplinary collaboration in disaster research.

We hope that you will find this site helpful in increasing your understanding of the issues in disaster research.