THE LATINA CRY FOR HELP: SUICIDE

Judd: The New York Spanish language newspaper El Diario/La Prensa has just completed a remarkable series on the staggering attempted suicide rates among Latina teenagers. The series, written by Elaine Rivera, focuses on the often suffocating conditions facing Latina girls today and the findings of Dr. Luis Zayas from the Washington University of St. Louis who is in the midst of a five year study on the subject.

Jason: The Center For Disease Control has stated that one in six Latina teens have attempted suicide - a shocking number that is the highest amongst all teen groups. The stats span all Hispanics - from Mexican to Dominican. Certainly, all teens struggle with issues of identity and self-doubt. First and second generation teens have an even greater burden to fit in. Layer onto this the cultural pressures facing Latinas and you have a formula that can easily lead to despair. I've seen it. I've known it.

Judd: Consider this: Living in an American society that does not reflect her own values, experiences and language, the Latina teen is burdened with a set of cultural beliefs and mores that further isolate her. Many are also dealing with issues of poverty. Her culture imposes strict gender roles and religious taboos. She must help out with the younger children and the household chores. Her freedom in an open American world is limited; she is often restricted from the extracurricular activities that she sees her non-Hispanic friends enjoy. Strict religious beliefs reject sex education, open discussion on contraception and sex and the option of choosing abortion if she does get pregnant. This, in turn, results in her being at greater risk of not only getting pregnant but also infected with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. All the while, she is bombarded with media images of people and lifestyles that do not reflect who she is or what she is experiencing.

Jason: It is not surprising that one in six feels there's no way out. While overall teenage pregnancy rates are down, Latina teens continue to have a much higher birth rate than either their white and black sisters. It is no wonder that their high school drop-out rates are mounting as well.

Judd: The suicide attempts are clearly a cry for help. We all need to listen. By 2050, one in four women in America will be Latina. Dr. Zayas has called it a public health issue. He is right. With statistics like these we will all be touched by this crisis. These teens are our future. They must have access to free clinics and counseling where they can feel safe to discuss sexuality, identity and their feelings of isolation. We cannot stand by and let these teens feel so trapped by their situation that they feel no recourse but to take their own lives.