Document Type
Report
Publication Date
Summer 6-25-2025
Abstract
Background: Injury and violence remain pressing public health challenges in New Mexico, particularly in rural and underserved communities. To inform prevention strategies, the University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center partnered with the New Mexico Department of Health and local organizations to conduct community listening sessions focused on upstream approaches addressing shared risk and protective factors.
Methods: Four listening sessions were conducted in 2025 with stakeholders from county health councils and community organizations. Using a rapid qualitative analysis approach, researchers analyzed participant perspectives on local injury and violence concerns, familiarity with upstream frameworks, and communication preferences.
Results: Participants identified overlapping community concerns, including mental health challenges, suicide, substance use (particularly fentanyl and alcohol), domestic violence and child maltreatment, housing instability, youth violence, motor vehicle crashes, and cumulative community trauma. Key risk factors included poverty, lack of transportation, and limited access to behavioral health services and infrastructure. Protective factors emphasized were stable housing, food security, youth mentorship, parenting education, social support networks, and community cohesion. Barriers to upstream prevention included chronic underfunding, provider shortages, insurance system limitations, stigma, and outsider-driven solutions. Participants called for sustainable funding, culturally grounded approaches, improved infrastructure, and stronger collaboration across sectors. Communication materials were viewed as promising but needed more realistic, locally relevant imagery, simplified messaging, and clear calls to action.
Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for sustainable, community-driven strategies that prioritize basic needs, economic stability, and local leadership. Strengthening upstream approaches can reduce risk factors, enhance protective factors, and build community resilience. Tailored communication and policy engagement are critical to advancing equitable injury and violence prevention in New Mexico.
Recommended Citation
Velarde, Camille; Yvonnie Baik; Elena Martinez; and Theresa Cruz. "CORE STATE INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM LISTENING SESSIONS REPORT JUNE 2025 REPORT." (2025). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-reports-documents/74