Santa Fe Standard

Navigating relationships can be challenging for young people, whether these connections are with family, friends, romantic partners, or themselves. To aid in this endeavor, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has introduced a video series on social media aimed at helping youth build strong and healthy relationships. The series will run through May.

The videos are hosted by Dr. Katherine Grill, a youth mental health expert, alongside Kenny Thomas, a former NBA player and University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball legend. They offer straightforward strategies to help young people enhance communication and trust.

These videos are produced with the support of the NMDOH Office of School and Adolescent Health. They focus on preventing poor communication habits and encourage young individuals to express their feelings openly.

Tessa Medina-Lucero, NMDOH statewide adolescent health coordinator, stated: "Healthy relationships help young people manage stress, build resilience, and develop a strong sense of self, all of which are crucial as they transition into adulthood." She added that the goal is to equip New Mexico's youth with necessary tools for thriving both now and in the future.

The Building Healthy Relationships series is released monthly on the NMDOH YouTube channel and shared across Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Adolescence marks a critical stage in development where physical, emotional, and social changes occur rapidly. The quality of relationships during this time significantly impacts mental health, resilience, and overall life quality.

For more details about the Positive Youth Development Approach visit Youth.gov.

For further information regarding this press release contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile).

A Spanish version of this press release is available through the provided link for accessibility purposes.