New Mexico’s Behavioral Health System Lacks Statewide Comprehensive Plan, Resulting In Local Fragmentation

Although the state of New Mexico has made substantial investments in behavioral health programs since the last evaluation in 2023, the state lacks a comprehensive “all-of-government” approach. This leads to fragmentation which makes it difficult to target investments to greatest need, resulting in program and geographic gaps. A total of 17 state agencies and local communities each have behavioral health responsibilities, and some communities have comprehensive behavioral health plans. This leads to a lack of strategic planning and coordination to serve the state's behavioral health care needs.

While the state has seen progress in its behavioral health . . .