N.M. Crisis Line and Access Line marks 10-year anniversary

Gorge Bridge suicide prevention call boxes among NMCAL’s many programs

The New Mexico Crisis and Access Line (NMCAL) is celebrating 10 years of engaging New Mexicans in accessing the support they need for their emotional, mental, behavioral and substance use concerns.

According to a press release, in January 2013, the first three New Mexico-based staff were hired at the Albuquerque call center; on Feb. 1 of that year, NMCAL took its first call. Ten years later, the organization boasts 40 New Mexico-based staff with an array of services that has supported more than 510,000 calls, chats and texts through the New Mexico Crisis and Access Line, Healthcare Worker and First Responder Support Line, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge intercoms, community mental health agencies’ after-hours support, the Peer-to-Peer Warmline, and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

As the primary responder to New Mexico’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline initiative, NMCAL call volume has recently nearly doubled compared to July 2013, according to the press release, which noted that more than 321,000 hours have been spent providing support to people from all counties throughout the state.

“With New Mexico’s suicide rate at 77 percent higher than the U.S. national average, and roughly 130,000 New Mexicans reporting past-year alcohol dependence or misuse, it is vital that we continue to create pathways to wellness which remove barriers and open doors for people to access a healthier life,” the release stated. “NMCAL ensures that there is access to wraparound care and diligently works to further support the recovery processes of New Mexicans by referring people to community-based services and encouraging engagements with digital wellness programs that offer integrated self-help tools through the NM 5-Actions Program and the NMConnect app.”

Multiple partnerships have been created between NMCAL and the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative department agencies over the past decade, the release added.

“By coordinating efforts through state, county, city and local services, we have been able to expand our offerings and create initiatives that strengthen access, which support people in attaining the right care at the right time for their specific needs,” said Wendy Linebrink-Allison, program manager for the NMCAL. “As a result, underserved populations in all counties are being reached, including 58 percent who either have Medicaid or no insurance, 62 percent who are not enrolled in behavioral health services, and 17 percent who are unhoused.”

The NMCAL array of services is staffed by behavioral health professionals who can respond to both crisis and non-crisis mental health and substance use concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are available statewide and toll-free for all New Mexicans. For more information, visit nmcrisisline.com.

If you or someone you know needs support, call 1-855-NMCRISIS (855-662-7474) or connect with behavioral health professionals by downloading the NMConnect app.