Mission Statement
The mission of the Office of School and Adolescent Health is to improve the health of all students and adolescents in New Mexico.
For more information
on our programs, projects, the “Head to Toe” conference, and technical assistance, please contact us.
Behavioral Health Services
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those 1-34 years old in New Mexico, making it a priority issue for the Office of School and Adolescent Health.
Current Activities
- Students in New Mexico have access to behavioral health services at the 59 school-based health centers
- A statewide Youth Suicide Hotline network was developed in 2006 to offer resources for those in crisis. Receiving approximately 17,000 calls annually, the statewide network reaches youth in crisis and provides bilingual services.
- A SAMHSA grant has initiated the development of a comprehensive suicide model for prevention,screening, referral, and treatment in four NM communities—Carlsbad, Gallup, Pojoaque, and Gadsden.
- The Office of School Health, in collaboration with the NM Suicide Prevention Coalition and NM Suicide Intervention Project provide trainings on suicide prevention and intervention throughout the state.
YOUTH HOTLINES
A total of three contracts are funded through State General Funds and issued annually to support a statewide suicide hotline network. Currently funded members of the Network include the University of New Mexico Agora Crisis Line, New Mexico State University Crisis Assistance Listening Line, and Presbyterian Medical Services Santa Fe Crisis Hotline. Each provides bilingual services to callers in crisis and act as back-up responders to calls unanswered by the other hotlines, acting as a 24 hour network of response. For assistance with a crisis, please contact:
University of New Mexico Agora Crisis Line: (505) 277.3013
New Mexico State University Crisis Assistance Listening Line or The CALL: (575) 646.2813
Presbyterian Medical Services Santa Fe Crisis Line: (505) 821-6333
Presbyterian Healthcare Suicide Prevention Hotline: (505) 247-1211
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK or 8255
NATURAL HELPERS
Natural Helpers is school-based peer support program based on a simple premise: Within every school, an informal "helping network" already exists. Students with problems naturally seek out other students — and also adults--whom they trust. Goals of the program are:
- To help young people develop the capability to prevent some of the problems of adolescence
- To help young people develop the capability to intervene effectively with troubled friends,
- To help young people develop the capability to choose positive ways of taking care of themselves., and
- To help young people develop the capability to improve their school and community.
Natural Helpers®: A Peer Helping Program
NATIVE H.O.P.E (Helping Our People Endure)
The Native HOPE training/program focuses on strengthening adult – youth partnership and community action planning. Key elements will include:
- Overview of the Native H.O.P.E. model
- Team Building
- Community Action Planning
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
Teen dating violence among adolescents ages 10-24 is a major public health concern (Foshee, et al, 2004). Between one in four and five teens nationally experience physical or sexual violence by their dating partner (American Bar Association, 2005). New Mexico ranks 12th nationally in its rate of teen dating violence, where one high school student in nine (12.6%) reports being hit or physically hurt within the twelve months preceding the survey (NM YRRS 2007). The Office of School and Adolescent Health has sponsored Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Weeks, held the first week of February annually, since 2008. If you are interested in learning more about ways to identify and prevent dating violence, see:
SUCCESS IN SCHOOLS
The Success in Schools Committee (SIS) was developed in 2005 to support the statewide transformation of children’s behavioral healthcare in a way that included schools.
The guiding philosophy of the committee is that effective school-based and school-linked behavioral health services improve student academic achievement, school attendance and safety. Currently, the SIS committee is co-led by OSAH and PED and is an active workgroup of the Children’s Subcommittee.
SIS membership consists of participants from Medicaid, DOH OSAH regional and administrative staff, PED Special Education Department, the statewide behavioral health entity, Parents for Behaviorally Different Children, and administrative and direct line staff from school districts statewide.
The primary accomplishment of SIS is the development of New Mexico Guidelines for Behavioral Health in Schools. These guidelines support evidence based practices and help to develop an understanding of professional roles in school settings. The document will be finalized and submitted to DOH, PED, and Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) for approval in September of 2009. Once finalized, the guidelines will be distributed on this website and through other venues.
“Schools play a vital role in promoting the resiliency of students and acting as early identifiers for students at risk for behavioral health concerns. Seeing behavioral health as a critical component in the overall health and well-being of students is a vital component of promoting safe and healthy schools."
--Anna Nelson, Behavioral Health Program Manager – OSAH
Copyright 2009 New Mexico Department of Health - OSAH