Los Alamos County Council Chair Theresa Cull reads a proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month accompanied by, from left, Brandi Weiss, Los Alamos Community Foundation Anchorum Fellow and Program Manager, Jessica Strong, LAC Social Services Manager, Cull, Jennifer McNeel, Program Manager at Los Alamos JJAB, and Liz Martineau, executive director of the Los Alamos Community Foundation. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Dr. Marvel Harrison discusses the New Mexico Suicide Prevention Initiative’s 60-minute suicide prevention training. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
A large crowd was in attendance Monday evening at SALA for the kick-off meeting for the LAUNCH initiative. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Jessica Strong, LAC Social Services Manager speaks at Monday’s meeting at SALA where the Los Alamos Uniting for Community Health (LAUNCH) announced a new initiative. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
LACF NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos Uniting for Community Health (LAUNCH) announces a new collaborative community-wide effort to improve health and wellness throughout the County.
“The grass-roots idea started with a meeting between myself and Jenn Bartram while she was serving on the Los Alamos County Health Council, and quickly grew to include other organizations and volunteers,” said Jessica Strong, LAC Social Services Manager.
Brandi Weiss, Los Alamos Community Foundation Anchorum Fellow and Program Manager, created the name and logo and will also coordinate some aspects of the initiative.
“We are excited to be working with Anchorum Health Foundation and our local community to address some of the most challenging issues facing our county and find lasting solutions”, she said.
“Community health and wellness is a complex system. Improving this system requires a community-wide effort engaging an ecosystem of organizations and individual citizens willing to share information, strengths, and resources. We believe working together toward common goals will lead to meaningful change,” explained Liz Martineau, Los Alamos Community Foundation Executive Director.
Los Alamos County Social Services, Los Alamos County Health Council, Los Alamos JJAB, and Los Alamos Community Foundation are leading the effort, although many other organizations, such as Los Alamos Family Council, LANL, LAPS, LAPD, LAMC, Self Help, Visiting Nurses, Family Strengths Network, First Born, New Mexico Suicide Prevention Initiative, and individuals are involved in implementation. The group’s first mission is to focus on mental health. Los Alamos County often ranks at the top of national lists as one of the healthiest communities in the country, and yet data indicates a troubling consistent number of youth deaths by suicide; and ongoing depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders experienced by youth and adults.
Like many small, rural towns across the country, community members face numerous challenges finding available mental health professionals with schedule availability, insurance coverage, and affordability.
LAUNCH has a bold goal, to work with the NM Suicide Prevention Initiative (NMPSI) to train 1,000 community members in suicide prevention in the next two years. Dr. Marvel Harrison is director of the ABC Suicide Prevention Training Program that NMPSI will be introducing this Summer, 2025. She has taught and worked in suicide prevention for many years and has a deep connection to New Mexico, having raised her family in Los Alamos. ABCs of suicide prevention: Ask, Be present, Connect are easy to learn.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to attend a training and learn how to reach out if one suspects a person may be contemplating suicide with compassion, empathy, and referrals to a mental health professional. Ideally, learning this information becomes almost fun: bring a friend, learn a new skill, help save a life!” adds Jessica Strong.
LAUNCH is not stopping there. JJAB is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training, support groups are held through Family Strengths Network and Visiting Nurses, counseling is available through Los Alamos Family Council, First Born offers support for young families, Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization offers programs and support for seniors, and Self Help manages the 211 Help Line and the losalamosmentalhealth.org website. Additional programs are in the planning stages. We hope everyone will find a way to connect with others for support.
We invite you and your organization to be partners in this effort! Commit to improving mental health for yourself and your organization by attending a training session and prioritizing health and wellness at your home and business. Details on upcoming training sessions and other ways to participate are available at losalamoscf.org.
Contact Brandi Weiss at brandi@losalamoscf.org for more information about the LAUNCH initiative.
Proclamation declaring the month of May “Mental Health Awareness Month” in Los Alamos County
WHEREAS, mental health is essential to overall health and well-being, and all people experience times of difficulty and stress in their lives; and
WHEREAS, one in five adults and one in six youth experience a diagnosable mental health condition each year, yet many go without the care and support they need; and
WHEREAS, stigma and misunderstanding continue to pose barriers to individuals seeking help, but community education and open conversations can foster a culture of support and acceptance; and
WHEREAS, Los Alamos County is home to dedicated professionals, advocates, community organizations, schools, and first responders who work tirelessly to promote mental wellness and provide care and resources to those in need; and
WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to shine a light on mental health, reduce stigma, celebrate recovery, and encourage our community to prioritize mental well-being just as we do physical health; and
WHEREAS, local organization are leading the way with programs that support youth, adults, and families, and they deserve recognition and community support, including the newly formed Los Alamos Uniting for Community Health, also known as LAUNCH, with its initial suicide prevention trainings that kick off this month and will continue throughout the year, and then expand into more mental health trainings and supports into the future;
NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby proclaim the month of May 2025 as “MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH” in Los Alamos County, and we call upon all community members, organizations, businesses, schools, and faith-based organizations tot pursue mental health-related trainings so that we create a compassionate, caring community for all who are struggling.
DATED this 19th day of May 2025.