Saturday, September 7, 2024
9/7/2024
The Commission on Suicide Prevention from the Puerto Rico Department of Health will create, implement, and evaluate the Expansion of a Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Approach in Puerto Rico to address suicide mortality and morbidity in males 50 years and older in underserved communities, who contribute significantly to the overall suicide burden in Puerto Rico. This disproportionately affected population has more than twice the rate of suicides (18.9-24 per 100,000) when compared to that of the general population in Puerto Rico (8.1). These rates in adult male suicides increase significantly in three regions that comprise municipalities in the west, south, and the inner-east areas of the Island. The comprehensive approach will include the following five essential components: (1) a Multisectoral Partnership Plan; (2) utilization of reliable and official suicide mortality and morbidity surveillance data to identify and monitor emergent trends and contributors; (3) development of an Inventory of existing suicide prevention programs in Puerto Rico and the identification of prevention gaps; (4) implementation and evaluation of strategies and approaches in the community-based, healthcare-based, and upstream prevention tiers; (5) and the development and implementation of a Communication and Dissemination Plan related to surveillance and programmatic activities. The following strategies and approaches - obtained from the CDC Suicide Prevention Technical Package - were selected to address the needs and prevention gaps in the identified DAP: gatekeeper trainings for community and healthcare providers, assessment and quality improvement in follow-up contact approaches through the local crisis hotline, the expansion of the Puerto Rico Suicide Safe Reporting Guidelines and supplemental online course, the identification and promotion of policies regarding housing stabilization and to strengthen economic supports and lastly, teaching coping and problem-solvi ng skills strategies based on a social-emotional learning program tailored to the DAP. The scope of this project will include the implementation and process and outcome evaluation of the comprehensive approach. The key outcome is a 10% reduction in suicide morbidity and mortality in the identified DAP. Baseline data chosen for Puerto Rico will be obtained from 2017, as it represents the year with available data from the Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System, through 2021. This will enable us to compare detailed data until the end of the project’s period of performance in the year 2027.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
