Culturally Centered CBT Protocol for Suicidal Behaviors Among Youth in Mexico City

SCBT-SB is a manualized psychosocial treatment protocol developed specifically with and for L/H youth with suicidal ideation and behaviors. Clinician, adolescents, and caregivers' manuals are available in both Spanish and English. SCBT-SB protocol's main conceptual framework and strategies are informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy concepts, psychoeducation, and adolescent parenting strategies. The intervention involves individual, caregivers, and family sessions. SCBT-SB, while maintaining the basic principles of CBT, was further developed to include developmental (e.g., identity), and cultural elements of L/H families (e.g., family communication, language). The protocol has two main phases. Phase 1, the Crisis Module, includes nine standard core sessions, and Phase 2, which proposes a flexible number of sessions, focused on the delivery of interchangeable coping skills modules and the acquisition of skills that reduce STB.

TAU consists of eclectic brief treatments, including some CBT or psychodynamic strategies that are applied with adolescents or in conjunction with the caregiver. In all cases, psychoeducation is provided to adolescents and their caregivers. Occasionally, they may be referred to some family therapy intervention. All treatments are brief therapy, provided by clinical psychologists and are intended to address the cognitive, emotional, and family factors that affect the adequate psychosocial functioning of the adolescent.