Suicide Prevention: Martha Castanon, Spanish-Speaking Support Group

By Nichole Seitz
Contributing Writer

It was November 16, 2006, when Martha Castanon received a phone call that would forever change her life. Her daughter, Sarah Lisa Guerrero, had committed suicide.

“When I look back, there were signs, but I didn’t think it was anything major,” said Castanon, emotion still audible in her voice as she spoke to students at the Red River Area Learning Center in Moorhead where her daughter had taken classes. “Whatever issue you are going through, whether it’s school, problems with mom or dad, problems with your boyfriend, whatever it is, you will get through it.”

After attending support groups in the area, Castanon decided to start her own support group with the hopes of helping others as she had been helped. “I thought if support group is helping me maybe if I start one for Spanish speakers, maybe it would help them,” she said. Castanon completed her training in September and started holding meetings in her home soon after.

Meetings are held the last Wednesday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. in Castanon’s home. Attendance at meetings is not what she would like to see, but she receives phone calls from people just wanting someone to talk to. “One thing about Latino culture is that talking about stuff like this in an open group of strangers is something that we don’t do, so I know that it is going to take awhile for people to open up and be open to coming to a support group, but I decided to start it. It’s a first for North Dakota and a first for Minnesota,” said Castanon.

According to a 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey posted on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Web site, 17.9% of Hispanic American high school students seriously considered suicide within they last 12 months of the survey’s date. What is even more alarming is the fact that 24.2% of the female Hispanic Americans surveyed seriously considered attempting suicide.

The pressures of fitting in with the crowd and looking like everyone else can weigh heavily on any teen, but become amplified if that teen belongs to a minority group. “These young girls start lightening their hair and wanting to change their eye color,” said Castanon as pictures of Sarah flash over a screen. “It can be extremely hard in high school. There is a lot of pressure to fit in and be like everyone else,” said high school student Melissa Kearns. “If you don’t measure up to a certain standard then you are seen as weird or uncool.”

There are a number of things you can do if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide. “If you are having suicidal thoughts just talk to someone. Call the suicide hotline,” said Castanon. “They don’t care if you have pink skin and purple hair. They are just there to help you.” The First Link Hotline, National Suicide Hotline and National Spanish-Speaking Hotline will all put you in touch with someone local to talk to.

For a list of suicide survivor support groups around the U.S. and for more information about Castanon’s Survivors of Suicide Support group for Spanish Speakers, visit the American Foundation for Suicide Preventions Web site at http://www.afsp.org.

If you need someone to talk to please call one of these hotlines:
::First Link Hotline: 1-800-273- TALK (8255)
::National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
::National Spanish-Speaking Hotline: 1-888-628-9454

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