The suicide rate in NM has consistently been at least 50% higher than the U.S. rate. Over the past decade, suicides increased in NM by about 33% compared to a 21% increase in the U.S. In 2015, NM had the fourth highest rate of suicide among all ages, and suicide accounted for 8.7% of all years of potential life lost before 75 years.
In 2015, suicide was the eighth leading cause of death among NM residents and the second leading cause of death for persons 10-49 years. In 2015, 16% of these deaths were among youth ages 10-24 years. Whites and American Indians had the highest rates of suicide in New Mexico. Over the past decade, rates among White adults as well as those 65 years and older increased by more than 50%. The suicide rate for males was more than three times that of females. Rural counties had higher suicide rates compared to metropolitan counties over the five-year period from 2011-2015.
Suicide rates by firearm have increased significantly over the past decade. 53% of those who died by suicide from 2011-2015 in NM used a firearm; this compares to 51% nationally over the same period. The leading cause of suicide death among American Indians was suffocation, and in all other racial/ethnic groups, the leading cause was firearms.
The NM 2016 age-adjusted suicide rate was 22.2 per 100,000 population.
Using syndromic surveillance data, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is developing a process for identifying and intervening in suicide attempt clusters.
Partners
National Alliance on Mental Illness NM
NM Crisis and Action Line
NM Suicide Prevention Coalition
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
Suicide Prevention Coalition Building in Native American Communities
University of NM (UNM) Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health
County health councils
School districts
Regional local behavioral health collaboratives
Tribal councils
UNM LGBTQ Resource Center
What Works
Community Interventions
Postvention
Safe reporting/messaging about suicide
Community engagement activities
Gatekeeper training
Crisis intervention
Reducing access to lethal means among persons at risk of suicide
Parenting skill and family relationship programs
Clinical Interventions
Treatment for people at risk of suicide
Treatment to prevent re-attempts
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
Strategy
Identify and support people at risk (gatekeeper training, crisis intervention).
Lessen harms and prevent future risk (safe reporting/messaging about suicide).
Create protective environments (reduce access to lethal means among persons at risk of suicide).
FY17 Annual Progress Summary
In FY17, 52 community members were trained in evidence-based suicide prevention programming, exceeding the target of 50. We are working on an approach for intervening in suicide attempt clusters.