A suicide prevention and intervention workshop aimed at helping Latino/a youth of the San Bernardino community: A grant proposal

The purpose of this project was to design a comprehensive suicide prevention and early intervention program for local youth, identify potential funding sources, and submit a program proposal for implementation to Precious Life Children and Educational Counseling Center, located in in the City of San Bernardino, California. Precious Life was selected due to its location and its history with the Latino community—an important consideration, given the focus of this project and the risk factors currently present in this community. A review of the literature was conducted to define the factors contributing to the widespread problem of teenage suicide, to assess the particular risks associated with living as a cultural and/or ethnic minority in San Bernardino, to examine how this often-marginalized status intersects with other risk factors, and to evaluate existing suicide prevention programs currently implemented within this county. The proposed program seeks to increase community awareness of suicide among teenagers, as well as to raise the funding for Precious Life staff to participate in necessary training, with a focus on crisis intervention and addressing suicide risk factors, attempts, and completions. Thus Precious Life will be equipped to provide counseling, mental health screenings, referrals, and a crisis hotline