Greetings!

Wishing you all moments of rest and rejuvenation. We began our July all-member meeting with a reflection and prompt around stress management. Several members noted the importance of both self-care and collective care as we work together to make our communities, systems and environments healthy and thriving. Some of the practices shared were to:

• Practice mindful breathing
• Soak up the sunlight or smell the rain
• Stretch at least 10 mins a day
• Spend time with pets
• Engage in physical activities such as yoga, tennis, or bike riding
• Play calm music
• Diffuse essential oils
• Spend time with family or friends
• Find a community event to participate in or volunteer for
• Practice culturally specific grounding and recentering activities
• Reflect on the 7 generations to come and the 7 generations that led to you
• Create a stress-management plan. See an example here.

In addition to these practices, we would also like to highlight resources if you or anyone you know needs additional mental and emotional health support:

• NAMI New Mexico: The families and members of NAMI New Mexico are here to help! We offer understanding to anyone concerned about mental illnesses and the treatment of mental illness.
• Call the New Mexico Crisis and Access Line: CALL 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474) AND/0R DIAL 988: Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone—support is available, right here in New Mexico. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with stress, or just need someone to talk to, our trained professionals are ready to listen—24/7, free, and completely confidential. Created by New Mexicans for New Mexicans, we understand this community because we’re part of it.
• Connect with your Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems. EAPs address a broad and complex body of issues affecting mental and emotional well-being, such as alcohol and other substance abuse, stress, grief, family problems, and psychological disorders. EAP counselors also work in a consultative role with managers and supervisors to address employee and organizational challenges and needs. Many EAPs are active in helping organizations prevent and cope with workplace violence, trauma, and other emergency response situations.

The Collaborative is a space where we work to achieve a vision of all people in New Mexico living in communities with equitable access to the conditions they need to thrive. This includes our members.

More news and updates from our members below.

Upcoming Workgroup Sessions

• CLRS Workgroup Meeting - Tuesday, August 12th, 10:00 am MT
• Community Engagement Workgroup Meeting - Friday, August 15th, 2025, 2:00 pm MT
• DTS Workgroup Meeting - Monday, August 18th, 1:00 pm MT
• Tribal Health Systems Workgroup Meeting - Thursday, August 28th, 11:00 am MT

For any questions, please contact Danielle at dlucero45@phs.org.

Supporting digital connectivity in New Mexico - United Healthcare

New Mexico faces a significant digital divide, ranking 48th among states in internet connectivity and with New Mexico’s tribal communities facing even greater challenges in access. Internet connectivity is a critical resource to accessing health care and resources like education and employment. To bridge this gap, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico invested $275K in initiatives with Goodwill Industries of New Mexico and the University of New Mexico Foundation to boost internet access, device availability, and digital literacy training in communities across the state.