Not only is suicide is the cause of 11.7% of all deaths among youth and young adults aged 10 to 24 years in the United States (J. A. Grunbaum et al., 2004) but suicide is third leading cause of death for young Latinos/as aged 10 to 24 years (National Institute of Mental Health, 2001). Hispanic youth are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, accounting for 48% of the total Hispanic population and 26% of Hispanic suicides (CDC, 2004). From 1997-2001, a total of 8,744 Hispanics died from suicide; 7,439 (85%) were males (CDC, 2004). Approximately 50% of all suicides occurred among persons aged 10-34 years (CDC, 2004). Persons of Mexican origin accounted for the majority of suicides (4,934 [56%]), followed by persons of other/unknown Hispanic origin (1,219 [14%]), Central and South Americans (950 [11%]), Puerto Ricans (932 [11%]), and Cubans (709 [8%]) (CDC, 2004).

Research has identified that Latino/a youth are at a greater risk of suicide behavior than other ethnic groups (G. Canino & R. E. Roberts, 2001). Hispanics in grades 9--12, particularly females, report more feelings of sadness or hopelessness and of suicidal ideation and attempt, compared with their white or black non-Hispanic counterparts (CDC, 2004). One of the reasons may be because Latinos/as have less access to mental health services than do Whites and are less likely to receive needed care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).

Seeking to address this important public health issue, Jefferson Center for Mental Health conducts community outreach via public information campaigns, by developing community wide suicide prevention protocols, maintaining a Suicide Prevention Coalition, maintaining the www.endteensuicide.org website in both English and Spanish, and providing suicide prevention gatekeeper trainings via generous grant support from Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Office of Suicide Prevention, The Colorado Trust, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These trainings include the safeTALK Suicide Alertness Training, the ASIST Suicide Intervention Skills Workshop, and the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training.

The safeTALK Suicide Alertness Training is a three hour training that deals openly with the stigma around suicide and prepares participants to become more aware of suicide prevention opportunities in their community. As a safeTALK-informed session member, you will be better able to: understand how personal and community beliefs about suicide affect suicide stigma and safety; appreciate how the steps taught in safeTALK can be used to help prevent suicide; choose among ways to help protect, preserve and promote life in a suicide-safer community.

The ASIST Suicide Intervention Skills Workshop is for caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over 750,000 caregivers have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer -- 3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. QPR can be learned in as little as 90 minutes.

In addition, information sessions have been created to address the unique risk factors that certain communities face.

The Latino Information Session is designed to inform and educate participants about the Latino community. Issues addressed include: Latino vs. Hispanic, Impact of Immigration, Acculturation vs. Assimilation, Cultural Elements of Suicide, and Personal Biases.

The GLBTQ Information Session is designed to inform and educate participants about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning communities by utilizing information presentation, discussion, small group exercises, and experiential activities.