Anyone seeking free and confidential counseling can call: 505-954-1057

SANTA FE – New Mexico Human Services Department has launched a statewide mental health support line to help New Mexicans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cope with COVID-19 Crisis Counseling program provides free and confidential short-term mental health services to New Mexicans. Anyone seeking free and confidential counseling to help cope with social isolation and other challenges brought on by the pandemic can call: 505-954-1057. The phone line is open 7-days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The operator will connect you with a crisis counselor within 24-hours.

“It can be helpful to talk to someone when you are facing anxiety, depression and stress, which are common emotions to experience when dealing with all the uncertainties of the pandemic,” said Neal A. Bowen, PhD, director of the Behavioral Health Services Division. “Through this program, we are connecting New Mexicans with crisis counselors who can provide support to those who are feeling overwhelmed and stressed.”

A June 2020 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 40.9 percent of respondents reported “at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition,” including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance abuse, with rates that were 3 to 4 times the rates 1 year earlier. Of the 5,412 U.S. adults surveyed, 10.7 percent reported seriously considering suicide in the last 30 days.

COVID-19 crisis counseling helps those individuals and groups having psychological reactions to large-scale federally declared disasters recover. Disaster crisis counseling is a strength-based, outreach-oriented approach to help those affected by disasters understand they are having a normal reaction to an unusual situation, identify their individual needs and link them to personal and local community resources. Crisis counselors also work to enhance social and emotional connections to others in the community and promote effective coping strategies and resilience. Crisis counselors work closely with community organizations to get to know the available resources and connect survivors to needed services.

The National Center for Health Statistics partnered with the Census Bureau to obtain information on the frequency of anxiety and depression symptoms. New Mexico ranked third highest in the country for those symptoms. 

One individual needing help to manage emotions and anxiety was grateful for the caring and skilled check-ins that helped stabilize his feelings and keep his family safe and well. Another person reported that “no one understood or supported me, everyone failed me, and no one followed through to help me until I made the call.” To date, over 6,000 people have been served. This program ends in the fall of 2021.

The Cope with COVID-19 Crisis Counseling program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is designed to improve and lessen the emotional and behavioral trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Human Services Department’s Behavioral Health Support Division has contracted with specially FEMA trained Certified Peer Support Workers, and Community Support Workers through contracts with Life Link Training Institute and Presbyterian Medical Services to provide these free and confidential COVID trauma crisis services aimed at the unique emotional COVID-induced trauma facing Native Americans, Spanish-language speakers, school-age youth, parents, teachers, justice-involved individuals, housing insecure and homeless, elderly and those quarantining in care centers.

The state-wide Coping with COVID-19 Crisis Counseling campaign includes highly targeted click to call, digital search, billboards, convenience store window clings and posters, transit, radio, TV, vaccine center magnets, social media, and culturally appropriate direct pueblo outreach.

An animated video is available at: https://youtu.be/m5IC573yyYg

The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to more than 1 million New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, and several Behavioral Health Services.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.