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Suicide Prevention Programs

Call or text 988. Anyone. Any struggle. Anytime.

Need support now? 988 offers 24/7 judgement-free support for mental health, substance use, and more.

Call or text 988, or chat online at 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Why is violence prevention important?

Suicide remains a critical public health concern in New Mexico. Although the suicide rate decreased 8.7% in 2023, the state has the 5th highest suicide rate in the United States, the 2nd in adolescent suicide, which is 62% higher than the national average.

NMDOH, in collaboration with the New Mexico Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Awareness and communities statewide, coordinate action, communication, individuals, organizations, and communities to foster a comprehensive, public health approach to suicide prevention.

NMDOH fosters alignment between state and local efforts to collaboratively address the complex challenge to prevent suicide. Hope is cultivated through prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts that support recovery from suicidal thoughts, behaviors, attempts, and losses. Where there is help, there is hope. Where there is hope, there is healing.

By focusing on culturally aware community engagement with a trauma informed multi-generational approach we continue to strive to save lives. Reducing suicide and supporting mental wellness is crucial to that goal.

NMDOH supports suicide prevention across the state with our community partners, including the 988 NM Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org) for emotional, mental, or substance use help. The world is a better place with each of us in it. Be good to yourselves and each other.

Secondary Suicide Prevention Program

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In 2023 alone, more than 49,000 people died of suicide in the US. In 2023 in New Mexico, 489 people died of suicide, the 5th highest rate of suicide among all US states. 1

Reducing the high rate of suicide in NM requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach involving both primary and secondary prevention. Primary care facilities and other general medical settings regularly see individuals at risk for suicide. 2-5.

Forty percent of individuals who died by suicide had contact with a primary care provider in the month prior to their death, and up to 80% had contact within the past year. Individuals discharged from an emergency department following a suicide attempt are documented to have higher rates of suicide with the first 6 to12 months following discharge.2-5.

Listening helps. People who have survived suicidal crises often highlight one thing that made a difference: hope - and the human connection that helped restore it. 6

The New Mexico Department of Health supports the New Mexico Coalition for Suicide Prevention & Awareness (NMCSPA) to share suicide-related data and facts, information, and resources to reduce the rate of suicide in New Mexico. The statewide quarterly meetings invite community leaders, organizations, healthcare partners, and anyone with an interest in suicide prevention to attend to reduce suicides in New Mexico. Join the Coalition: NMCPSA

References

  1. CDC. Suicide Data and Statistics. Suicide Prevention. March 26, 2025. Accessed July 14, 2025. Suicide Data and Statistics - CDC
  2. Luoma JB, Martin CE, Pearson JL. Contact With Mental Health and Primary Care Providers Before Suicide: A Review of the Evidence. AJP. 2002;159(6):909-916. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.159.6.909
  3. Ahmedani BK, Westphal J, Autio K, et al. Variation in patterns of health care before suicide: A population case-control study. Preventive Medicine. 2019;127:105796. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105796
  4. Ahmedani BK, Simon GE, Stewart C, et al. Health Care Contacts in the Year Before Suicide Death. J GEN INTERN MED. 2014;29(6):870-877. doi:10.1007/s11606-014-2767-3
  5. Stene-Larsen K, Reneflot A. Contact with primary and mental health care prior to suicide: A systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2017. Scand J Public Health. 2019;47(1):9-17. doi:10.1177/1403494817746274
  6. Vatne M, Naden D. Experiences that inspire hope: Perspectives of suicidal patients. Nurs Ethics. 2018;25(4):444-457. doi:10.1177/0969733016658794
  7. You S, Van Orden KA, Conner KR. Social connections and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 2011;25(1):180-184. doi:10.1037/a0020936
  8. Motto JA, Bostrom AG. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Postcrisis Suicide Prevention. PS. 2001;52(6):828-833. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.52.6.828
  9. Steinberg R, Amini J, Sinyor M, Mitchell RHB, Schaffer A. Implementation of caring contacts using patient feedback to reduce suicide-related outcomes following psychiatric hospitalization. Suicide & Life Threat Behav. 2024;54(6):1041-1052. doi:10.1111/sltb.13108
  10. Liu L, Porter SA, Gebhardt H, Markman JD, Buchholz JR, Reger MA. Lessons Learned From Implementing a Caring Contacts Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendation. PS. 2023;74(12):1307-1310. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.20220629
  11. Skopp NA, Smolenski DJ, Bush NE, et al. Caring contacts for suicide prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Services. 2023;20(1):74-83. doi:10.1037/ser0000645

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