New Mexico’s middle and high school students voluntarily complete a Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS) every other year. This self-reported data is an extremely valuable indicator of youth mental health across the state. Findings from the 2023 survey called for attention:
- 37% of students felt persistently felt sad or hopeless
- 19% engaged in non-suicidal self-injury
- 15% seriously considered suicide
- 8% attempted it
Research shows that strong relationships—like feeling connected to school or having supportive adults—can help protect youth from harm. The New Mexico Department of Health Office of School and Adolescent Health (OSAH) is working to create supportive, healthy, and more resilient communities through the New Mexico Youth Peer-to-Peer Helper (YP2PH) program, which trains students to support each other, build healthy relationships and habits, and develop leadership skills.
For nearly ten years, NMDOH OSAH has fully funded 58 unique YP2PH programs, reaching all five Public Health Regions and 13 counties. As we continue to address the mental health challenges facing New Mexico, it’s just as important to shine a light on what helps youth thrive—like strong relationships and supportive environments. We’re proud to stand alongside OSAH in growing the YP2PH program to uplift youth strengths and leadership. Together, we can build safer, healthier communities, empowering youth to support one another and lead positive change.