Press Releases
Author of Research Paper Investigating Suicide among Adolescents in Mexico Wins Fred L. Soper Award
Media Contact: Ashley Gatewood
202-974-3727
gatewooa@pahef.org
WASHINGTON, DC (September 30, 2009) – A research paper reporting on the first large-scale study conducted in Mexico about youth suicide won the highly respected Fred L. Soper Award for Excellence in Health Literature last night. The Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the sponsors of the award, recognized the author, Dr. Guilherme Luiz Guimaraes Borges for the paper, “Traumatic Events and Suicide-related Outcomes among Mexico City Adolescents.”
Dr. Borges’ article was the first large-scale study in Mexico to examine the relation between traumatic events and suicide among young people 12 to 17 years old. In his research article, published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, results from the study he conducted found a link between traumatic events, such as sexual assault and purposefully injuring another person, with increases in suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among Mexican adolescents.
The study, which provides never-before available data, is a landmark achievement because it illuminates the necessity of addressing the impact of negative life events on Mexican adolescents early to prevent profound mental health complications. It reports on how the number of traumatic events was also associated with increasing suicidality. For instance, those with three or more events were 13.7 times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those with none.
“Winning the award was a great surprise to me. This award will help me continue to produce high quality work in the future and hopefully create more opportunities for mental health research in our region,” says Dr. Borges.
“Dr. Borges has presented an important contribution to the study of childhood psychology in Mexico. His work demonstrates that we must address this vulnerable population’s mental health needs after a traumatic event to help prevent suicidal activities. PAHEF commends him for his work and thanks him for his groundbreaking scientific research” says Edward Kadunc, executive director of PAHEF.
To recognize significant contributions to health literature in the Region of the Americas, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation established the Fred L. Soper Award for Excellence in Health Literature in 1990 to promote the highest standards of research; specifically research that emphasizes the regional impact in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Founded in 1968, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) is a public 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering public health programs in the Americas that address major health concerns. PAHEF improves the lives of people throughout the Americas by working with the public and private sectors as well as major public health research, policy, and development groups.
PAHEF enjoys a unique relationship with PAHO, the Pan American Health Organization, which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.
Since 1975, the Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health have been stimulating the growth of the next and rising generation of leaders working together to improve health and health care in the Americas. The Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health is a partnership between the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). A jury of distinguished public health professionals reviews nominations and recommends a candidate for each award to the board of trustees of the Foundation for final selection. The awards have the unique distinction of recognizing both established and emerging contributors to the field of public health within the Western Hemisphere. Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, they are recognized as a career-defining achievement that brings honor and recognition.
www.pahef.org
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