Mental Health Resources

Here is a non-exhaustive list of resources and organizations that provide support that can help you if you are considering suicide or if you need mental health treatment. There is no shame in seeking such help. I have sought mental health help after returning from combat. US Army Major General Ernest Litynski did the same after suffering from PTSD. I invite local religious leaders, community organizations, and healthcare providers to contact me so that I can add them to the list of resources available to our friends and neighbors.

Many of these resources are the product of the hard work of Torrance County DWI Prevention Program Coordinator, Dr. Tracey Master. Many thanks to her for helping me with this document.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Telephone: 988
En Español: 1-888-628-9454
Website: https://988lifeline.org/
Local Website: https://988nm.org/

Dr. Tracey Master/Program Coordinator/Licensed Senior Chaplain NMCPO/NMCPS/CPSW
Telephone: 505-705-0332
Website: https://www.torrancecountynm.org/services/torrance-county-dwi-prevention-program

For People In Need of Help

New Mexico Crisis and Access Line (NMCAL)

The crisis line is available for individuals to call and talk to a counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The crisis line is not limited to suicide matters, but other mental health issues and concerns as well.
Telephone: 1-855-662-7474 (1-855-NMCRISIS)
Website: http://www.nmcrisisline.com

New Mexico Peer-to-Peer Warmline

The Warmline has in-person and texting services to support individuals who want to call or text and talk about any mental health and substance use concern before that person gets to the point of crisis. The services can also be used when individuals want to talk about a mental health or substance use concern for themselves or to learn how to help another. Calls are free and anonymous. NMCAL also provides crisis call services for various groups after-hours and weekends.
Telephone: 1-855-466-7100 (1-855-4NM-7100)
Website: http://www.nmcrisisline.com

Albuquerque Vet Center

The Albuquerque Vet Center offers confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Its services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). The Vet Center can also connect you with more support in the VA and your community.
Telephone: 505-346-6562
Physical Address: 2001 Mountain Road Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Website: https://www.va.gov/albuquerque-vet-center/

Health Equity Alliance for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans

HEAL+NM works to achieve health equity and promote wellbeing for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, intersex, asexual, and pansexual (LGBTQ+) people through community organizing, education, advocacy, and messaging. Since 2003, HEAL+NM has gathered as a network of concerned community members to develop positive health messages by and for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans.
Website: https://www.healplusnm.org

Veterans Crisis Hotline

The Veterans Crisis Line serves Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. It addresses all mental health crises, not only suicide.
Telephone: 988 Option 1
Text: 838255
Website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

The Upper Room Hotline

The Upper Room Hotline is a Catholic faith-based mental health hotline.
Telephone: 1-888-808-8724
Website: https://www.catholichotline.org

New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care Directory and Map

The School-Based Health Center Directory and Map document and website identifies the location of various individual school-based health centers across New Mexico at which students can obtain mental health care. An interactive map provides the clinic name, school district and county information, address, and phone number.
Website: https://www.nmasbhc.org/school-based-health-centers/sbhc-directory/

New Mexico Resource and Referral Guide for LGBTQ Students

This LGBTQ guide was developed in 2017 with the New Mexico Youth Education on Sexual Health (YESH) Advisory Council to serve as a resource for teachers and school staff to help refer middle and high school students to services in New Mexico. For access to this guide, please contact Anne.MarlowGeter@state.nm.us (at least until I can put a PDF copy here on the site).

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project provides crisis services and peer support to LGBTQ youth and to youth questioning their sexuality.
Telephone: 1-866-488-7386
Text: Text the word “Start” to 678-678
Website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org

For Educators

New Mexico Department of Health Office of School and Adolescent Health

The New Mexico Department of Health’s Office of School and Adolescent Health (OSAH) educates and provide resources to educational staff, physical and behavioral health care professionals, and community members who serve schools and adolescents. OSAH provides resources, training, and technical assistance for individuals and developing programs and is working to enhance a sustainable behavioral health system for schools and youth-serving organizations. Evidence-based practices to improve the health, wellness, and resilience of students and adolescents are promoted.

Behavioral Health Consultant: Shayna Klassen shayna.klassen@state.nm.us/505-222-8683

Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator: Victoria Waugh-Reed
victoria.waugh-reed@state.nm.us/505-222-8605

For Community Organizations and Religious Organizations

New Mexico Department of Health Suicide Prevention Program

The NMDOH Suicide Prevention Program is housed within the Epidemiology and Response Division’s Office of Injury Prevention. Program staff serve as a resource for evidence-based and evidence-informed data about various national, regional, and state entities and individuals involved in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention services and facilitate the reconstructed New Mexico Suicide Pervention Coalition. The state’s Mental Health Epidemiologist conducts analyzes and monitors trends related to suicide and suicide-related behaviors across all ages and population groups in New Mexico.

Suicide Prevention Coordinator: Jacalyn Dougherty jacalyn.dougherty@state.nm.us/505-827-2488

Mental Health Epidemiologist: Carol Moss carol.moss@state.nm.us/505-476-1440

New Mexico Human Services Department Behavioral Health Services Division

New Mexico Human Services Department, Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD) provides financial support and technical assistance to community organizations dedicated to delivering suicide prevention activities throughout the state. Activities funded by BHSD include crisis hotlines, suicide prevention trainings, recovery events, and youth summits.

The BHSD has oversight of the Behavioral Health Planning Council, a federal requirement for states receiving Block Grant funding. The Council serves as an advisory body to the Governor of New Mexico and the Behavioral Health Collaborative. One of the Council’s top priorities is suicide prevention.
Website: http://newmexico.networkofcare.org/mh/

☎️

I invite local religious leaders, community organizations, and healthcare providers to contact me so that I can add them to the list of resources available to our friends and neighbors.