• The suicide rate in New Mexico (NM) has consistently been more than 50% higher than the U.S. rate.
• In 2016, New Mexico had the fourth highest suicide rate in the U.S. From 2009-2016, suicides increased in NM by 23% compared to the U.S. increase of 14%. The largest increase in suicide rates in New Mexico over this period was among those oldest (65 years and older) and youngest (10-24 years).
• In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death in New Mexico for persons 10-34 years. Whites and American Indians had the highest rates of suicide in New Mexico. The suicide rate for males was three and one-half times that of females. Residents of rural counties had higher suicide rates compared to those of metropolitan and small metro counties. Just over half of those who died by suicide in 2017 in New Mexico used a firearm. In 2017 the number of suicides in New Mexico rose to 491 from 469 in 2016. The 2017 rate of 23.2 per 100,000 residents represents a 4½% increase from the previous year’s rate of 22.2 per 100,000.
• During FY19-Q1, the NMDOH Suicide Prevention Program provided "Question, Persuade, Refer" Gatekeeper trainings to 75 community members in various locations around the state. Participants included university housing staff, resident advisors, and teachers and other school personnel.  Provided a county-specific Suicide and Suicide-related Behaviors in Sierra County data report to Sierra County members of the Health Council and community in Elephant Butte Reservoir, NM in August 18, 2018. The meeting was attended by about 20 individuals and content is planned for use by Council members to inform suicide awareness and prevention efforts.
• The Epidemiology and Response Division Injury and Behavioral Epidemiology Bureau (IBEB) is developing a process for identifying and intervening in suicide attempt clusters using syndromic surveillance of emergency department admissions for self-inflicted injury, which will enable IBEB to direct prevention efforts.

• NMDOH Epidemiology and Response Division
• All Public Health Divisions
• NM Public Education Department
• NM Crisis and Action Line
• Agora Crisis Center
• Southern NM Suicide Prevention & Survivors Support Coalition
• NM Injury Prevention Coalition
• NM Human Services Department, Behavioral Health Services Division
• NM Children, Youth and Families Department
• Office of the Medical Investigator, Child Fatality Review Suicide Panel
• University of New Mexico, Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health, Child Psychiatry
• County Health Councils
• Crisis Response of Santa Fe
• School districts and schools, School-based health centers, Safe Schools Coalition
• Regional local Behavioral Health Services, Sky Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness
• NM Veterans Services (e.g., Veteran’s Administration, Veteran Resource Centers)
• Native American Suicide Prevention Council

• Community Interventions
  • Gatekeeper training
  • Crisis intervention (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
  • Reducing access to lethal means among persons at risk of suicide
  • Parenting skill and family relationship programs
  • Community engagement activities
  • Postvention
  • Safe reporting/messaging about suicide (Media guidelines)
• Clinical interventions
  • Treatment for people at risk of suicide
  • Treatment to prevent re-attempts (Emergency Department Brief intervention with Follow-up Visits)
• School-based Interventions
  • Peer norm programs
  • Social-emotional learning programs
• Organizational Interventions
  • Safer suicide care through systems change
  • Organizational policies and culture
• Policy Interventions
  • Strengthening household financial security
  • Housing stabilization policies
  • Coverage of mental health conditions in insurance policies
  • Reducing provider shortages in underserved areas
  • Community-based policies to reduce excessive alcohol use

• Gatekeeper training to identify and support people at risk.
• Community engagement activities (via county-based data presentations) to promote a sense of being joined.
• Safe reporting and messaging about suicide to lessen harms and prevent future risk.
• Secondary prevention of suicide attempts presenting to the emergency department.

Q1: 

• Train 18 community members in an evidence-based suicide prevention program. Completed - Provided Gatekeeper training (Question, Persuade, Refer) to 75 community members. 
• Provide one county-based suicide and suicidal behaviors data presentation in an identified at-risk community. Completed - Presented county-specific suicide and suicidal behaviors data to the Sierra County Health Council.

Q2: 

• Train 18 community members in an evidence-based suicide prevention program.  Provide one county-based suicide and suicidal behaviors data presentation in an identified at-risk community.

Q3: 

• Train 18 community members in an evidence-based suicide prevention program.  Provide one county-based suicide and suicidal behaviors data presentation in an identified at-risk community.

Q4: 

• Train 15 community members in an evidence-based suicide prevention program.  Provide one county-based suicide and suicidal behaviors data presentation in an identified at-risk community.

The Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) ended FY18 on a strong note and has established an effective partnership to be more effective in the number of trainings that has been and continues to be offered for New Mexicans.  With FY18 ending and FY19 starting, SPP is committed to providing as many trainings as possible with an effective collaboration and dedicated workforce.