Building Systems of Hope in Puerto Rico

As Program Manager and Behavioral Scientist at the Puerto Rico Department of Health’s Commission on Suicide Prevention, Bloomberg Fellow Maria Coss oversees the implementation of a comprehensive approach to reduce suicide. She leads a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, epidemiologists, demographers, evaluators, and communications specialists who work together to educate policymakers and community leaders, strengthen safe communication practices, and ensure that data is accessible and actionable for communities. 

Dr. Coss and the Commission on Suicide Prevention work to prevent deaths by suicide using three main strategies:

1. Surveillance and high-quality data collection systems for reports on deaths by suicide in Puerto Rico.
2. Implementation and evaluation of social/emotional learning programs tailored for men over 50, one of the most disproportionately impacted groups, to teach problem-solving skills and coping mechanisms.
3. The Media Monitoring and Recommendation Initiative, through which Coss and her team monitor news coverage of suicides in Puerto Rico and engage with the media on responsible reporting practices to shift how the media portrays mental health. 

“I’ve witnessed how suicide, and other violent deaths, can devastate families and communities,” Dr. Coss reflects. “That sense of urgency pushed me to dedicate my career to building systems of prevention and equity. Public health gave me the space to not only respond to crises but to prevent them before they happen.”

Dr. Coss’s path into public health was deeply personal. Raised with a strong awareness of how systems of oppression can shape health and wellbeing, she pursued a PhD in clinical psychology. During her doctoral studies, she was invited to serve as a suicide prevention trainer and public speaker, an opportunity that shifted her career from one-on-one clinical care to a population-level approach.

In addition to monitoring media coverage of suicides, the Commission on Suicide Prevention developed a set of specific guidelines for safe reporting practices. By working directly with journalists and monitoring both traditional media outlets and social media, the Commission is reshaping public narratives around suicide in Puerto Rico. Local outlets are already adopting these recommendations, proof of the ripple effect that words can have on saving lives. 

The approach has been recognized nationally as a model success story by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. More resources, including the newly launched Commission on Suicide Prevention website, are available at prevencionsuicidio.salud.pr.gov.

“Knowing that even one life saved represents countless futures preserved is what keeps me moving forward,” says Coss. Through her leadership, Maria Coss is showing that prevention is possible, that equity is essential, and that collective action can transform pain into power.

To hear more from Maria Coss, and other public health leaders, tune in to the Bloomberg American Health Summit live on September 30 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Click here to learn more.