References:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

(2000). Practice parameter for the assessment and
treatment of children and adolescents with suicidal
behavior.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Youth
risk behavior surveillance-United States, 2007.
Surveillance Summaries, June 6, 2008. MMWR
2008;57(No. SS-4).
Goldsmith, S.K., Pellmar, T.C., Kleinman, A.M., Bunney, W.E.
(Eds.). (2002). Reducing suicide: A national imperative.
Committee on Pathophysiology & Prevention of
Adolescent & Adult Suicide, Board on Neuroscience and
Behavioral Health, Institute of Medicine. Washington,
D.C.: National Academies Press.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA). (n.d.). National mental health anti-stigma
campaign: what a difference a friend makes: social
acceptance is key to mental health recovery (SMA 07-
4257) [Brochure]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government
Printing Office.

WHAT CAN YOU

DO TODAY?
• Assure your patients that recovery is possible.
Only 25% of adolescents believe that a person

•
with a mental illness can recover.
Consider prescribing an antidepressant for
Visit www.scribd.com and
Suicidal
Ideation in
individuals about whom you are concerned.
There is a correlation between an increase in search the title of this
prescription rates of antidepressants and a
pamphlet to edit or print
Latino
decrease in suicide rates. Treatment of
depression in primary care is associated with additional copies at no cost.
reduced rates of completed suicide.
• Know the risk factors for adolescent suicide.
A first degree relative who has committed
suicide, major cultural changes or immigration,
For a related video aimed at
Latino adolescents that Adolescents
substance abuse, major depression, previous aims to de-stigmatize and
suicide attempts, and discord within the family prevent suicide, visit A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR
are all risk factors for adolescent suicide.
www.youtube.com and KING COUNTY PROVIDERS
• Make use of self-completion questionnaires,
such as the Zung Self-Rating Depression
search “Hope and Help:
Scale, to screen for depression and suicidal Suicide in Latino Teens”.
ideation. Adolescents will usually reveal this
information if asked directly.
 Suicidal Ideation in
Latino Adolescents
THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

King County National

Resources . Resources .

• SUICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING
CAUSE OF DEATH IN HISPANIC-
A MERICAN ADOLESCENT S
• 10.2% OF HISPANIC-AMERICAN
ADOLESCENTS HAVE ATTE MPT ED
SUICIDE, AS CO MPARED TO 6.9% OF
ADOLESCENTS IN GENERAL
• 14% OF HISPANIC-A MERICAN FE MALE
ADOLESCENTS HAVE ATTE MPT ED
SUICIDE, AS CO MPARED TO 7.7% OF
W HITE FE MALE ST UDENT S AND 9.9%
OF BLACK FE MALE STUDENTS
• Consejo Counseling and Referral Service
for the Latino Community,
Youth Behavioral Health Program,
www.consejo-wa.org
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers,
Outpatient Mental Health Services,
www.seamar.org
• El Centro de la Raza,
Youth Case Management,
www.elcentrodelaraza.org
• King County Mental Health Services,
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/
MentalHealth.aspx
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,
1-800-273-TALK for English,
1-888-628-9454 for Spanish
• National Mental Health Information Center,
suicide prevention materials in Spanish
http://nmhicstore.samhsa.gov/espanol/
default.aspx
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center,
www.sprc.org
• National Youth Violence Prevention
Resource Center, www.safeyouth.org,
1-866-SAFEYOUTH

All of the above resources offer free or sliding

scale services and services in Spanish.

HISPANIC-AMERICAN
ADOLESCENTS HAVE THE
HIGHEST RATES OF SUICIDE IN
THE ADOLESCENT POPULATION