Culturally-Inclusive Rural Crisis Services as Suicide Prevention: A Case Study from Gallup, NM

Body of Abstract: No IRB approval required for program.

Between 2023 and 2024, Santa Fe Recovery Center (SFRC) received state and federal grants to launch a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Crisis Triage Center (CTC), and Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) to address the increasing behavioral health and substance use crisis continuum needs in Gallup, NM. Gallup--a rural community located in northern New Mexico’s McKinley County situated between the Navajo Nation, Hopi Reservation, and Zuni Pueblo--has a population of around 20,000 individuals, with 75% of residents identifying as Native American or Hispanic. This presentation provides an overview of the implementation and operations processes across the first six months for these culturally inclusive and trauma-responsive programs, co-located to enhance service delivery. It highlights how coordination with local government, tribal government, law enforcement, first responders, and community services was paramount to the project’s success. It also discusses challenges and lessons learned. Data-driven outcomes demonstrate the practical impact of this unique model, offering valuable insights for consideration in other rural and Indigenous communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain insights into launching a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Crisis Triage Center (CTC), and Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) in a rural and culturally diverse community.
• Review effective methods for coordinating with community partners to strengthen service delivery across the crisis continuum while working with individuals with intersecting minority identities.
• Discover practical strategies applicable to attendees' communities and agencies, especially in crisis care efforts as a method of suicide prevention with rural and Indigenous populations.