GSP grief support is free and is made possible by state funds through the University of New Mexico and our state legislature and federal crime victim funds through the NM Crime Victims Reparation Commission.
Any New Mexico resident who has had a loved one undergo a death investigation at OMI qualifies for grief support services.
Unfortunately, our grief support services are only available to decedent’s who passed away in New Mexico and who underwent a NM OMI death investigation. If you need assistance with gathering other resources available to you, please call (505) 925-4412.
Our therapists are only required to be licensed in New Mexico. But, gives us a call at (505) 925-4412. We can provide you with resources in your area.
The Grief Services program of the Office of the Medical Investigator is a short-term counseling program. Depending on your assigned therapist’s recommendation, we will companion you with the goal of referrals to community grief support groups or longer-term counseling options. Our focus is on companioning and counseling through grief and trauma.
Absolutely not! Anyone who has ever lost a loved one (everyone!) knows that grief does not stop after a specific timeframe. The grieving process is unique to the individual experiencing it. As long as the GSP is in existence, NM residents who have lost a loved one that underwent an OMI death investigation can access grief support services at no cost.
No! We provide services to people in a variety of relationships to the decedent. Close or distant family, significant others, friends, classmates, witnesses to the death, etc. You will be asked about the decedent and about your relationship to the decedent, but only to tie you to the OMI case for billing purposes. Remember, our services are about the grief and loss of a loved one.
Our Staff Clinician’s and Field Trauma Contractors are required to have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or a directly related behavioral health field and be licensed in that discipline specific field (LPC, LPCC, LISW, LCSW, Ph.D., etc.) Our grief therapists have extensive experience and expertise in dealing with the effects of traumatic grief and have undergone training in companioning the grieving. Our interns are master's level mental health interns supervised by the GSP Manager. If you are interested in joining our team, please see the Join Our Team link.
Unfortunately, at times, the program is on a waitlist due to the significant need for grief support. It could take a couple of weeks or at times, up to a month or longer. We will advise you of the wait time when you call. Other methods of delivery can shorten that wait time. If you are willing to participate via tele mental health, it may be easier to get you seen faster.
We can provide grief support to clients:
Please call (505) 925-4412 for more information.