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Puerto Rico Suicide Prevention Information

• Contact Information
• Recent Developments
• History of Suicide Prevention Efforts
• Data

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Puerto Rico Contact Information:

Please click on contact information to view the person(s) taking the lead in suicide prevention planning efforts in all of the states or territories.

Recent Developments:

• In 2006, the Universaidad del Turabo and University of Puerto Rico received grants from SAMHSA for campus suicide prevention programs
  
  
• The Commission for Suicide Prevention is collaborating with the University Pediatric Hospital to establish the Adolescent Suicide Epidemiological Surveillance Demonstration Project aimed at registering suicide attempts among adolescents in Puerto Rico
  
  
• The Commission for Suicide Prevention is conducting adolescent suicide prevention activities in schools and distributing “Para Salvar Vidas” (To Save Lives) tool kits.
  
  
• Reto y Esperanza: Healthy Puerto Rican Youth Development Project is currently undergoing expansion. Six subcommittees have been established with each developing a training module that addresses post youth development and health, human relations, building peer partnerships, building youth-adult partnerships, and community action
  
  
• The Comprehensive Adolescent Health Services Program (SISA) is currently developing a training model “Abracemos La Vida” (Embracing Life). The model addresses issues that may contribute to suicidal behaviors such as depression and anxiety.
  
  

History of Suicide Prevention Efforts:

• In December 2004, the Commission distributed 2,000 suicide prevention information packages during the “Agunialdo por la Paz” event
  
  
• The Commission for Suicide Prevention of the Department of Public Health is comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors. The Commission developed a Tool Kit called “Para Salvar Vidas” (To Save Lives) targeted to the adult population - 37,000 kits have been distributed.
  
  
• A Steering Committee comprised of 15 adult and youth representatives from public and private agencies was formed to develop the post youth curricula
  
  
• Reto y Esperanza: Healthy Puerto Rican Youth Development has been implemented in collaboration with Rochester University, Cornell University Act for Youth, and the Konopka Institute of the University of Minnesota.
  
  
• The Maternal and Child Health Division adopted a positive youth module as a strategy to prevent suicide deaths and attempts among adolescents
  
  
• The Maternal and Child Health Division held 21 educational activities and workshops on adolescent suicide - 324 persons participated in the events
  
  
• In March 2005, the Commission participated in “Conferencia de Calidad de Vida Escolar” (Conference on School Quality of Life)
  
  

Data:

• Intentional Self-Harm
  Number: 262
  Age-Adjusted 6.8
  Rate per 100,000: 7.0
  
  Age-adjusted death rate for 2003, Data source: CDC National Vital Statistics Report, 2006. Volume 54, Number 13, Table 29.
  
  Additional data may be found in research articles such as:
  Sattler DN, Preston AJ, Kaiser CF, Olivera VE, Valdez J, Schlueter S.
  Hurricane Georges: A cross-national study examining preparedness, resource loss, and psychological distress in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the United States. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 2002 Oct; 15(5): 339-51
  
  

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The SPRC is supported by a grant (1 U79 SM57392-05) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). No official endorsement by SAMHSA or DHHS for the information on this web site is intended or should be inferred.

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