ABSTRACT
In 2015, 15% of Puerto Rican adolescents attempted suicide. In general, adolescent females have more suicidal thoughts, whereas male adolescents are more likely to die by suicide. However, few evidence-based treatments have been developed for this population. The aim of this study was to illustrate the therapeutic process of a male Puerto Rican adolescent treated with the socio-cognitive behavioral therapy for suicidal behavior (SCBT-SB), a culturally informed protocol, and to discuss how developmental, feminist, and family system perspectives were incorporated in the SCBT-SB treatment model. A case study is presented: Julio received the SCBT-SB after a psychiatric hospitalization subsequent to threating to commit suicide. Baseline and posttreatment assessments evaluated diagnosis, risk factors (e.g., hopelessness), treatment satisfaction, and suicidal behaviors. Julio demonstrated clinically significant change in depressive symptoms, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and aggressive/impulsive behaviors. The SCBT-SB was feasible to implement and proved acceptable to the client and his family.