Project ECHO at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is launching the Child and Adolescent Mental Health ECHO Program, a virtual mentoring program designed to address critical gaps in youth mental health services throughout the state.
Beginning Feb. 5, the program will provide free virtual mentoring sessions every first and third Wednesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. MST. The program is open to all child-facing providers in New Mexico, including advocates, community health workers, counselors, health care providers, peer support workers, school administrators and staff.
It offers no-cost continuing medical education credits, allowing participants to build capacity to recognize, address and prevent mental health crises in young people across New Mexico.
“The Child and Adolescent Mental Health ECHO addresses a critical gap in care for rural communities across New Mexico,” said Dr. Colicia Meyerowitz, chief of staff at the Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City, N.M. “It equips primary care and mental health professionals with the tools and expertise to support children before they reach a crisis, reducing the strain on emergency services and improving outcomes for families statewide.”
New Mexico faces a youth mental health crisis. According to the 2021 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, 44 percent of young people in grades 9-12 reported feelings of sadness or hopelessness, while 23 percent engaged in self-harming behaviors, and 10 percent attempted suicide.
These alarming statistics underscore the need for accessible, effective mental health resources. The new Child and Adolescent Mental Health ECHO Program aims to empower professionals on the front lines of this crisis with the knowledge and support they need to improve mental health outcomes across the state.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health ECHO Essential Topics
- The state of child and adolescent mental health in New Mexico
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Contemporary issues
- Lived experience perspectives
- Medication management treatment approaches
- Navigating referrals and behavioral health systems
- Psychotherapy treatment approaches
Our goal is to create a community of practice that empowers professionals to provide the best possible care for our youth. By fostering collaboration, we aim to address the unique challenges facing children and adolescents, ensuring they receive the support and equitable care necessary to thrive.
New Mexico faces significant challenges in providing mental health care for youth, including shortages of child mental health professionals, limited access to substance use treatment, and long waitlists for services, particularly in rural areas.
“I’m excited to collaborate with providers across the state to improve mental health outcomes for young people through Project ECHO,” says Olivia Shadid, MD, a double-board certified psychiatrist and assistant professor in the UNM School of Medicine who serves as co-medical director for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health ECHO Program.
Learn how Project ECHO supports professionals with tools to address mental health challenges and improve outcomes for New Mexico’s youth. Register on Project ECHO’s proprietary platform iECHO.org or email the program team.
Founded in 2003, Project ECHO is a global, not-for-profit organization, headquartered at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. ECHO empowers practitioners in rural and underserved areas to reduce disparities and improve the well-being of people in the communities where they live. ECHO’s low-cost virtual mentoring model addresses some of the world’s greatest challenges in clinical medicine and public health.