Group works to prevent young Latina suicides

Approximately one out of four Latina teens have thought about killing themselves at some point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Local groups are working to shed light on the

News 12 Staff

Oct 7, 2014, 1:41 AM

Updated 3,495 days ago

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Group works to prevent young Latina suicides
Approximately one out of four Latina teens have thought about killing themselves at some point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Local groups are working to shed light on the issue.
Lawmakers, such as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), met with officials at the Comunilife outreach program in Bushwick Monday to discuss suicide-prevention funding. Comunilife has a program called Life is Precious, which aims to reduce suicide rates among Latina girls around the ages of 12 and 17.
In the Bronx, 13.7 percent of Latina teenage girls thought about taking their lives in 2013 and 11.9 percent attempted suicide, according to CDC figures. Both numbers were down slightly from 2011, but officials believe the numbers are still too alarming.
"Too often, these young women find themselves stranded between their parents' more traditional cultures and values and their own values and views and those of the broader society," said Gillibrand. "As a result, the number of Latina teens who seriously consider suicide is an alarmingly high rate."
Lawmakers stress that community-based programs are key to making teens think twice before attempting suicide.


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