Despite the profound impact that intrafamilial stressors, including parent – adolescent acculturation discrepancies, may have on Latino adolescent behavioral and mental health, this line of research remains underdeveloped. The purpose of this study is to obtain rich descriptions from Latino adolescents of the most salient intrafamilial stressors. The authors employ focus group methodology with a grounded theory approach. A total of 25 focus groups were conducted with 170 Latino adolescents in the Northeast and Southwest United States. Findings indicate that Latino adolescents experience significant stressors related to parent – adolescent acculturation discrepancies. From this qualitative study the authors derive a series of testable hypotheses aimed at fully understanding the role of parent – adolescent acculturation discrepancies on Latino adolescent behavioral and mental health and informing the development of culturally responsive preventive interventions for this population.

Despite efforts aimed at achieving health equity, Latino youth continue to experience significant health and mental health disparities. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the role of intrapersonal and ecodevelopmental factors, including family, peer, school, and community, in the lives of Latino alternative high school youth residing in the Southwest, United States. Five focus groups were implemented with a total of 19 participants. Study findings are indicative of an ecology characterized by multiple challenges that have a significant impact on the lives of Latino alternative high school youth. Findings from this study reinforce that there remains a great need to fully understand the scope and influence of intrapersonal and ecodevelopmental factors among Latino alternative high school youth to inform the development of culturally-responsive social work preventive intervention programs.

PurposeThe Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) provides support in times of crisis and coordinates care with the goal of preventing injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths. However, very little is known about the extent to which Veterans at high risk for suicide utilise the VCL. An ongoing VA study, Link Up, examines the impact of a brief intervention aimed at increasing use of the VCL among Veterans recently hospitalised for suicidal crises. In order to better understand factors affecting the likelihood that Veterans will use the VCL, this poster examines the link between support from a romantic partner and use of this resource.Methods227 Veterans hospitalised for a recent suicidal crisis were asked about their relationship status (married or cohabitating vs. single, widowed, or divorced) and use of the VCL in the past year. An odds ratio was calculated to examine the association between relationship status and crisis line use.ResultsAnalysis showed no significant difference in the likelihood of VCL use between partnered and single Veterans, 18.3% and 23% respectively (Odds Ratio of 0.74; 95% Confidence Interval 0.350–1.533).ConclusionOverall, the likelihood of utilising the Veterans Crisis Line was not related to relationship status. Although the analyses were undertaken with the assumption that calls would be more common in those without access to other sources of social support (such as from a partner) it is possible that outreach efforts have been successful in expanding the appeal of the VCL across different demographic groups.SignificanceWhen safety planning, a clinician may place higher emphasis on the VCL with a patient who has fewer social supports. The present analysis indicates that similar discussion of the VCL may be beneficial for all high-risk patients. Therefore, equal emphasis on the VCL should be included in effective safety planning to prevent injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths.