NEW MEXICO: State Hopes Primary Care Doctors Can Aid Suicide Prevention Efforts
April 22, 2016
The state of New Mexico is starting to train primary care doctors to screen their patients for mental health problems. This SAMHSA-funded effort aims to reach people at high risk for suicide through primary care physicians, who serve as the only point of contact with the health care system for many people. It will also connect physical health care with mental health treatment in government-funded programs such as Medicaid. The state is working with the University of New Mexico to provide 90-minute trainings to primary care providers and emergency department staff. In addition, state funds are being used in three counties to implement the Zero Suicide model, which enables health and behavioral health care systems to integrate suicide prevention into the care they provide.
Spark Extra! For more information on Zero Suicide and screening for suicide risk, see the Zero Suicide website and toolkit.