Suicide Prevention Interventions for Latine Families

In 2024, 10.1% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 reported serious thoughts of suicide, 4.6% made a suicide plan, and 2.7% attempted suicide. These risks are even greater among Hispanic youth.  

Enter the Paloma Program, an effort of Centro SOL at Johns Hopkins, founded 12 years ago, to help Spanish-speaking parents have conversations about mental health with their children.  

The Paloma program has demonstrated that accessible, culturally grounded education can strengthen families and help parents support their children with suicidal ideation. 

With support from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Bloomberg Associate Professor of American Health Kiara Alvarez collaborated with Cleos Studios to produce Spanish-language videos, reels, and social media posts informed by evidence-based curriculums and community expertise. The centerpiece of the project is a three-part animated video series titled “Paso a Paso,” featuring a storyline shaped by direct feedback from the program’s parent advisory board.  

The first episode, “Buscando apoyo,” or “looking for support,” follows Ana, a mother struggling to understand changes in her daughter Valeria’s behavior. The story introduces common concerns voiced by parents who experience isolation, self-blame, and uncertainty about how to seek help through their child’s school. The second episode, “Abriendo paso,” or “making way,” focuses on the difficult conversations that occur within families themselves and models open, honest dialogue that can create safety and connection. An upcoming third episode, “Uniones seguras,” or “secure connections,” is planned and will expand the storyline to include the role of fathers and shared decision making. 

The project also produced five short Instagram reels that address topics ranging from tools for navigating mental health needs to the experience of stigma when seeking treatment and medical help. These pieces reflect perspectives from parents, clinicians, and youth and were selected with guidance from the parent advisory board.  

This project serves as a strong example of the impact community-informed, culturally responsive prevention strategies can have on families who have long been left out of the conversation.