New Mexico Suicide Intervention

Natural helpers is a peer-helping program situated in eight santa fe schools during the 2023-24 school year. The program targets a diverse, cross-section of middle and high school students. Its purpose is to create a caring and supportive community within each school by teaching selected students to respond effectively when they or their peers experience a wide range of difficulties.143 students from eight middle and high schools were trained to be natural helpers.6,006 hours of training, community service and peer programming activities were performed.over the last 29 years, nmsip has developed training, education and public awareness programs that have delivered vital suicide prevention training skills and awareness information to several thousand students, school teachers and staff, behavioral health specialists, faith community leaders, youth service organizations and parents.538 youth received 2,044 contact training hours in suicide prevention, social/emotional competency skills, tools for wellbeing, trauma sensitive resiliency, and mindfulness awareness practice to further the goal of preventing youth suicide.postvention training and crisis response: 36 postvention team members received training in how to provide crisis intervention and grief support to schools in crisis. Nmsip coordinated and engaged its 36 member postvention team in critical response and outreach to 3 local schools during the 2023-24 school year.