American Public Health Association: Supreme Court's Overturning of Roe v. Wade Jeopardizes the Health of All Americans

Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD

"The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn its nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision allowing a constitutional right to abortion is a catastrophic judicial failure that will reverberate differently in each state and portends to jeopardize the health and lives of all Americans."  Read more here.

Thank you all who attended NMPHA's Annual Conference 2022. In case you missed it, or would like to reflect on the event, please enjoy the conference's highlights through art. Each artwork slide represents important topics that our Keynote speakers covered. The full illustration of the Annual Conference can be viewed here. We hope all enjoyed NMPHA's Annual Conference and we cannot wait for next year! 

Illustrations drawn by Taslim van Hattum. Click Here to view more of Taslim's work.

2022 NMPHA Annual Conference 

Thank you to our Presenters, Coordinators, Volunteers, Sponsors, and Attendees for making the 2022 NMPHA Annual Conference one to remember! 

We are grateful for the galvanizing discussions and community sharing you participated in, and hope you feel ready to go out and continue strengthening our communities.

The 2021 House Memorial 2 Public Health Task Force is pleased to provide the attached and linked draft report of recommendations to improve New Mexico’s public health infrastructure for a 45-day public comment period. Public comments will be accepted from June 1, 2022, through July 15, 2022. The draft report can also be accessed on the New Mexico Department of Health Office of Health Equity website here: https://www.nmhealth.org/about/asd/ohe. In addition to your own comments, we would appreciate your support in sharing this draft report with your networks and communities, so that we can reach as many people as possible to improve the current draft.

Public Comment Period: June 1, 2022 – July 15, 2022
Link to draft report: https://www.nmhealth.org/publication/view/report/7532/
Please review the draft report and provide feedback through one of the following ways:

• Use the QR code here to share your thoughts with us in our online survey.
• Use this link to our online survey to share your thoughts with us https://forms.office.com/g/rNsYBhgYbX.
• Email your comments to Health Equity Director T. Justin Garoutte, MPH, CPH, at Justin.Garoutte@state.nm.us.
• Call Justin with your comments at 505-946-7313.
• Mail your comments to: New Mexico Department of Health, Office of Health Equity, 1190 Saint Francis Drive, S4253, Santa Fe, NM 87505

QR Code - Online Survey

New Mexico Health Task Force Recommendations Draft 

Click Here or on Image.

Click here for HM2 Memorial 

NM Gun Violence Reporting Law

Attorney Sheila Lewis is working with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence to explain the New Mexico Red Flag Law (gun violence reporting law). You can view her recent presentation at NAMI Santa Fe here or click on the presentation below. 

Resources for Helping Each Other Cope in the Events of Mass Violence 

NMPHA is deeply saddened and disturbed by the recent acts of mass violence in Buffalo and Uvalde. Our hearts and condolences are with the children, parents, families, and communities grieving the unfathomable loss of their loved ones. 

Gun violence is a public health crisis that affects us all, and the ramifications of gun violence extend far beyond the act. The physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing of our communities are deeply impacted by such events. We hope you can find comfort and support in your communities in these devastating times to grieve and process together. We have experienced unprecedented trauma in these past few years, and now more than ever do we need to continue supporting one another. 

For those looking for immediate resources, we have included various resources that help children, families, educators, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include: 

The Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture Alumni Board has released a toolkit for managing symptoms at #racialtraumaisreal which is available to download in manuscript form (2015) or as an infograghic. 

National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources:

• Talking to Children about the Shooting
  
• Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators (En Español)
  
• Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen  (En Español)
  
• Talking to Teens about Violence (En Español)
  
• Tips for Talking to Students about Violence; and, 
  
• Coping After Mass Violence: For Adults

American Psychological Association (APA) Resources: 

• Empowering communities to prevent mass shootings. Psychology research is informing new strategies to reach people at risk of committing a violent act.
• Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting. Tips for managing feelings of distress in the aftermath of a shooting.
• How to talk to children about difficult news. Tips for parents and other caregivers on how to guide the conversation in a proactive and supportive way.
• Talking to kids when they need help. How to open the lines of communication and build trust.
• Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting. Tips for children of all ages.

Visit the NMDOH Newsroom and Vaccine Reports for the latest statewide data on COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. 

Click here to link to NMDOH Community Resource Center

For all NMDOH COVID-19 resources, visit our NM Vaccine Equity & Rebuild hub by clicking on the logo below.