About OMI grief services program

The University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (UNM OMI) Grief Services Program provides free, short-term companioning/grief support services for children, adults, families and groups who come through the office experiencing a loved ones' death arising from homicide, suicide, or various types of accidents in New Mexico.

The Grief Services Program provides offers individual, couples, family and support group companioning sessions, as well as assistance with navigating OMI reports and processes. Our Grief Services Program provides licensed clinicians utilize a companioning approach to grief support and incorporate a variety of therapeutic, evidence-based modalities and techniques into sessions. Any death, particularly a sudden, traumatic and unexpected death, can give rise to a variety of intense and challenging mental, physical, emotional and social reactions. Grief Services Program provides clinicians to assist individuals in normalizing and validating traumatic grief reactions and in finding healthy ways of coping with the traumatic loss of their loved one. The Grief Services Program provides referrals and resources to long-term care and higher levels of care when and if needed.

Eligibility requirements

• Surviving family and friends.
• Loved one has undergone a death investigation through the NM Office of the Medical Investigator.
• Reside in the State of New Mexico - Our services are only available to New Mexicans who are surviving family members and friends of someone who suffered a traumatic death in New Mexico.

Resources and referrals

Families have access to assistance with coordinating the varying services at the OMI. These services can include assistance with requests for various autopsy/postmortem reports and assistance with generating questions for/and meeting with Forensic Pathologists to obtain information.

The Grief Services Program provides works closely with partners in communities throughout the State of New Mexico. Additionally, the Grief Services Program provides grief education and training throughout New Mexico for agencies such as law enforcement, emergency responders, nurses, mental health providers, teachers and other groups upon request.

Grief Services Program provides clinicians work with clients to identify and find resources to assist in processing grief. These referrals can include funding resources, law enforcement referrals, court advocates, victims' rights resources and other mental health resources.