This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics.  The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events.  The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt a suicide.  This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population.  It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention.  The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention. 

This master class series aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations. 

Objectives Module 1: Introduction and Module 2: Suicide-related terms (Sept 9)

1. Discuss the goal of the clinician´s guide 

2. Provide an overview of Latinos in the US including statistics on suicide and attempts  

3. Define terms related to suicidal behaviors 

Objectives Module 3: Risk and Protective Factors (Sept 20)

1. Discuss risk factors for suicidal behaviors including culture-related risk factors such as acculturative stress 

2. Address the importance of identifying protective factors including cultural values that may serve as protection for suicidal behaviors 

3. Provide strategies for exploring risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviors  

Objectives Module 4: Assessment, Prevention and Intervention (Sept 27)

1. Identify effective strategies for assessment and engagement with Latino populations at risk of suicidal harm 

2. Describe procedures and approaches to establishing intent of suicidal harm 

3. Discuss Family Centered Approaches and pertinence for Latino populations 

Objectives Module 5: When Suicide Happens in School Settings (Oct 04)

1. Discuss the role of connectedness in schools 

2. Address the role of teachers and other school personnel in suicide-related incidents in schools 

3. Provide resources for schools 

Who should attend? This is a basic masterclass designed for mental health providers including psychologists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, and graduate-level students in the mental health field who are interested in learning about the vulnerabilities and uniqueness of this period.

About the presenter for Module 1 and 2:

Luis H. Zayas, PhD, is the Dean, Professor, and the Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work; and Professor of Psychiatry at the Dell Medical School of The University of Texas at Austin. In addition to numerous papers in scientific journals, Dr. Zayas is the author of Latinas Attempting Suicide: When Cultures, Families, and Daughters Collide (Oxford, 2011) and Forgotten Citizens: Deportation, Children, and the Making of American Exiles and Orphans (Oxford, 2015).

About the presenter for Module 3-5:

J Rocky Romero, PhD, LMSW- Dr. Romero is the CEO and owner of JR Romero & Associates, a training and consultant company he started almost 20 years ago. Dr. Romero is a former Assistant Professor of the New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work in Albuquerque, NM. He served as the co-chair for Governor Richardson’s appointed NM Higher Education Department on Cultural Competency Task-Force. Dr. Romero has also served as an Executive Council member for the NM-Consortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research to include other boards and committees. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of New Mexico in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies with a focus on analyzing legal discourse through a critical race theory lens. Dr. Romero has been a trainer and consultant for the NATIONAL HISPANIC AND LATINO MHTTC for the last 10 years and a national trainer for Clare|Matrix, formerly the Matrix Institute, for the last 12 years. He is focused on culturally appropriate treatment while focusing on reducing health disparities for people of color. Lastly, Dr. Romero is focused on the intersections of racism, discrimination, and the impact of racialized legal discourse on people of color.