New Mexico Invests $1.2 Billion to Tackle Mental Health Crisis
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In a landmark move, New Mexico’s lawmakers have approved a $200 million funding package and established a $1 billion long-term trust fund aimed at reforming the state’s troubled mental health system. This effort, recently signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, aims to close critical gaps that have left many individuals, like Dellavina’s son—who suffers from schizophrenia and has faced over 50 arrests—struggling with untreated illnesses and cycles of incarceration.
The comprehensive strategy encompasses three main components: expanding judicial authority to assist individuals in crisis, creating a billion-dollar trust fund for sustained investment in mental health services, and immediately implementing the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM). Pioneered in Miami-Dade County, SIM focuses on pinpointing systemic gaps in behavioral healthcare throughout the criminal justice process.
New Mexico’s Administrative Office of the Courts has been tasked with executing this initiative across all districts, drawing insights from successful models in Miami. Advocates believe that this structured approach, emphasizing accountability and regional planning, marks a critical step toward addressing the mental health crisis affecting families across the state.
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