By: Stephen Rausa
September is Suicide Prevention month and a new crisis hotline is gaining popularity in New Mexico. In July, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline launched. The once ten-digit number was reduced to 988 in the hopes that more people would remember it and call when they’re in a crisis.
“Everybody experiences mental health concerns in their life. That doesn’t mean that you have a mental health diagnosis but it’s ok to ask for help and if you don’t ask for help you can put yourself and others at risk,” said Wendy Linebrink-Allison, the New Mexico Crisis and Access Line’s program manager.
“Allowing a three-digit phone number where people can reach out, specifically for mental health concerns, allows for people to connect with the right people at the right time.”
In 2020 New Mexico had one of the highest suicide rates in the country. The state has now had a 16% decrease in suicides among New Mexicans aged 5 to 18; state officials credit the hotline and preventative initiatives for the decline. In our state, both the number of calls and the response rate have grown this year by over 90%.
Although, New Mexico has worked hard to help decrease the number of behavioral health crises; there is still work to be done. Adult suicide rates are slightly up, but the New Mexico Department of Health is dedicated to reduce these numbers and to make mental health services more widely available for everyone in need.
“Unfortunately, we also lead the country in alcohol-related deaths and we’re among the leaders in overdose deaths,” said Dr. Neal Bowen, the director of New Mexico Human Services
Department’s Behavioral Health Services division. “That’s one of the reasons we expanded it from just suicide to all forms of a behavioral health crisis – that way people have a pathway a three-digit pathway to get help.”
Most of the calls made to the hotline are about suicide, anyone can call the hotline for assistance with behavioral health crises. The phone line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with many trained individuals available and ready to assist.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts or struggling mentally, do not hesitate to call 988 and seek the assistance from trained professionals.
