Health and Wellness

April 12, 2021

Mental Health Resources

Places to Call for Help

In New Mexico, you can talk to trained staff if you have mental health or substance abuse concerns: call the NM Crisis and Access Line at 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. You are not alone and it is normal to feel anxious and worried! You can confidentially reach out to talk to someone anytime and anyplace.

If you want to hurt yourself, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Call 911 if you are in an EMERGENCY SITUATION. If you feel like you’re going to hurt yourself, it is an emergency!

If You Just Want Someone to Hear You Out…

Call the Peer-to-Peer Warmline at (855) 466-7100. They are available to talk every day from 3:30p – 11:30p MT. They are available by text from 6:00p – 11:00p MT

April 12, 2021

CDC Update About Surface Cleaning Effectiveness

The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus. It is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), but the risk is generally considered to be low. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/surface-transmission.html)

The most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash hands or use hand sanitizer.

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces can also reduce the risk of infection.

Always follow standard practices and appropriate regulations specific to your type of facility for minimum standards for cleaning and disinfection. This guidance is indicated for buildings in community settings and is not intended for healthcare settings or for other facilities where specific regulations or practices for cleaning and disinfection may apply.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html#other-facilities

April 12, 2021

COVID-19 Testing Sites and Times

Grant County Public Health Office, 2610 N. Silver Street Silver City, NM

Provides free testing every Tuesday from 8:30-10:30a.m. Testing is free, but insurance will be requested upon registration at https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/

Once registered, you will receive a code. Please save this code and arrive during the designated times. Please remain in your vehicle and wear a mask.

Testing may be delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather.

Hidalgo County Public Health Office, 530 DeMoss Street, Lordsburg, NM

Testing will be conducted every Thursday from 9:00-10:00a.m. Please remain in your vehicles. Testing is free, but insurance will be requested upon registration at at https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/

Once registered, you will receive a code. Please save this code and arrive during the designated times. Please remain in your vehicle and wear a mask.

Testing may be delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather.

CVS Pharmacy Drive-thru in Silver City, 610 Silver Heights Blvd., Silver City, NM.

Patients will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window. Testing is available every day.

Patients must register in advance at CVS.com Self-swab tests will be made available to individuals meeting CDC criteria, in addition to state and age guidelines. Testing is free, but those who have insurance should bring their card with them.

Albertsons – Silver City, New Mexico

Saliva Test- Cost $120.00 (not covered by insurance). Procedure: Recipients register online via the Albertson’s website, then receive a tube for saliva collection. The specimen is then mailed to a lab and results are sent back within three to five days.

Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS)

Testing is now available Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 2:30pm (closed 12-1pm for lunch) in all HMS locations — Animas, Cliff-Gila, Mimbres, Mining District, Lordsburg, Silver City, Bayard, and Santa Clara.

Testing expanded to everyone at both sites via a drive-up testing approach. Testing is free, but those who have insurance should bring their card with them. Call 575-388-1511 for an appointment in Silver City, 1-888-271-3596 for an appointment in Lordsburg.

At-home, self-administered COVID-19 saliva test opportunities

At-home, self-administered COVID-19 saliva tests offer accurate laboratory-confirmed results returned within 24-48 hours of receipt of the sample.

The free tests are available to New Mexico residents regardless of exposure risk– whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic, and whether they have come into close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 positive individual or not.

To order a test, and for more information, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nm/.

April 7, 2021

Study finds carcinogen above FDA limit in several hand sanitizer brands

As reported by CBS Morning, Valisure, an independent pharmacy and lab that tests drug products for quality, says it tested 260 products and found elevated levels of benzene in more than 20 of them.

Benzene is a known human carcinogen, and exposure to it is known to cause blood disorders, including leukemia.

Below is a list of the hand sanitizer brands that this study found have levels of benzene above allowable levels.

Artnaturals
SS Lavender & Herbs Scented Sanitizer
Huangjisoo Hand Sanitizer Gel Type Hand Cleanser
True Wash Instant Hand Sanitizer Natural
The Crème Shop Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer Peppermint-Scented Infused with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E
Star Wars Mandalorian Hand Sanitizer (blue and green)
Body Prescriptions Winter Mint Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer
Beauty Concepts Sugar Cookie Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
Pure Logic Hand Sanitizer Aloe + Green Tea
Miami Carry On Instant Sanitizer Gel Soothing Gel – Wash Free – With Aloe
Natural Wunderz Triple Action Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera
Clean-Protect-Sanitize Hand Sanitizer
Puretize Hand Sanitizer
Hand Clean 100 Ethanol Gel

See below for links to the CBSNews article and the laboratory testing results.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hand-sanitizer-benzene-cancer-chemical/

https://www.valisure.com/wp-content/uploads/Valisure-FDA-Citizen-Petition-on-Hand-Sanitizer-v4.14.pdf

March 29, 2021

Call center support for vaccine registration option on Department of Health hotline

January 7, 2021 – 2019 Novel Coronavirus – Alert

The New Mexico Department of Health today announced that the DOH hotline now offers support for questions surrounding vaccine registration.

Nearly 300,000 New Mexicans have registered for vaccine at the state’s website: https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org

The registration process is straightforward: users create a profile, enter health and other information, and then wait to receive notification from DOH when vaccine is available to them.

Users who have questions or would like support with the registration process – including New Mexicans who do not have internet access – can dial 1-855-600-3453, press option 0 for vaccine questions, and then option 4 for tech support.

Users who have other vaccine-related questions can call 1-855-600-3453 and simply press option 0 for vaccine questions.

“New Mexico is working to deliver the vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible. We encourage everyone to register – and we are pleased to provide in-person support to assist with that process,” said Dr. Tracie Collins, Secretary-Designate of the New Mexico Department of Health.

March 29, 2021

Register Today for the COVID-19 Vaccine

We need everyone to register for a vaccine and booster!

Even if you are not in the group currently being vaccinated, or if you feel safe in your own situation, please register. You are not “cutting” in front of others in the line, so please don’t believe that your sacrifice saves a space for someone else. Health officials use the registration numbers to know how many doses of the vaccine to order, so signing up helps both yourself and your community.

Please register at https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/ as soon as possible. The following graphics should make the process clear.

March 10, 2021

Online Depression Support Groups by LiveWell

A Free & Confidential Way To Feel Better

Are you looking for a confidential online support group because you haven’t been feeling like yourself? If you experience mild to persistent bouts of depression, have tried to hide it from others, or if you have anxiety and feel like you need to isolate yourself from others, the group support setting may be the right solution to feeling better. LiveWell groups don’t require you to speak and the sessions are safe, friendly and supportive.

Many of us feel lonely, worried, sad, hopeless, and many other emotions related to depression during COVID-19, but there are coping strategies we can learn about from online therapy groups such as LiveWell that accessible safely from home. We can feel better and enjoy our lives, so please consider joining a group like this and utilize the resources below.

LiveWell Support Groups do not provide emergency mental health support. If you have been thinking about harming yourself, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or call 911

No insurance, diagnosis, or registration is required. Participants may attend multiple sessions each week, are introduced on a first-name basis, and everyone in groups commit to confidentiality. All groups are led by trained volunteer peer facilitators from diverse backgrounds with lived experience of depression and recovery.

SUNDAYS 9:00AM (MST)
Easy access via zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/9zsv2jpv

This 75-minute support group follows the standard LiveWell format: a brief introduction, a topic or strategy-related discussion, and a reflection. Learn new skills for reducing your own symptoms and relapses of depression, and for increasing wellbeing.

MONDAYS 6:00PM (MST)
Easy access via zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/rkawf754

This 75-minute support group follows the standard LiveWell format (with break-out rooms, depending on group size). Please see description of Sunday’s meeting.

TUESDAYS 5:00PM (MST)
Easy access via zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/5cnah4rw

This 75-minute support group follows the standard LiveWell format (with break-out rooms, depending on group size). Please see description of Sunday’s meeting.

THURSDAYS 5:00PM (MST)
LiveWellRecovery Support Group
Managing depression and co-occurring issues
Easy access via zoom link:https://tinyurl.com/s3y2jy9

This 75-minute support group is dedicated to managing depression and its co-occurring mental health issues of substance use and/or anxiety. Each meeting begins with a “mental health check-up,” followed by a relevant group discussion. Share weekly successes and challenges with supportive peers.

February 26, 2021

Funding for Projects Addressing Social Isolation

The COVID-19: Addressing Social Isolation track is designed to address social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of enhancing connectedness of people living with paralysis and their caregivers. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. Deadline: March 16.

Source: https://www.christopherreeve .org/

February 23, 2021

Food and Other Resources in Silver City/Grant County during COVID-19

These flyers (English, Spanish) are for printed distribution to agencies and clients, and list resources of all kinds — community food support, shelter and utility assistance, options for transportation.

There are also medical contacts (including the VA, HMS, Family Support Services, and more) and resources listed for Counseling & Support (including sexual assault, mental health, suicide prevention and others).

There are websites listed that can offer more information on diverse subjects, including COVID-19 updates.

And there are specific descriptions detailing how to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as how to get tested.

So please share these flyers (English, Spanish) with all who might make use of them!

February 17, 2021

Your Guide to Masks

Wear a mask correctly and consistently for the best protection. Be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting on a mask and do not touch the mask when wearing it. If you have to often touch/adjust your mask, it doesn’t fit you properly, and you may need to find a different mask or make adjustments.

CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. Effective February 2, 2021, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.

For more specific guidance on how to select masks and how to wear them, check out the CDC guidelines.