Dr. Duarté-Vélez' work has focused on the assessment and treatment of Latinx youth with suicidal behaviors in the context of their family and society. She started her career as a clinical researcher in Puerto Rico, where she developed a CBT protocol that addresses culture and adolescence developmental stage as central components in treatment, the Socio-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Behaviors (SCBT-SB) supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She transported this protocol from Puerto Rico to Rhode Island to expand its applicability to Latinx youth living in the USA through an NIMH training grant. Dr. Duarté-Vélez completed a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the SCBT-SB versus Treatment as Usual (TAU) in a “real world” setting and a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy and effectiveness of the SCBT-SB funded by the National Institute on Minority and Heath Disparities. Currently, she is working on the implementation and testing of the SCBT-SB protocol in Mexico City supported by the NIMH. Also, Dr. Duarté-Vélez is testing the potential benefits of adding community health workers to address social determinants of health in the treatment of Latinx youth with suicidal behaviors in the outpatient clinical setting. 

My ongoing work and research interests are to develop and tailor treatments for minoritized populations (e.g. ethnic, sexual, multiple minoritized identities) according to their needs and cultural values, and to incorporate a health disparity perspective into research. My academic training and research experience has provided me with an excellent background in high risk Latinx youth and adults in Puerto Rico and the U.S. This has been enhanced by further experience in CBT, cultural adaptations, diverse ethnocultural perspectives, and adolescents at suicide risk. I have ample experience as a CBT therapist, CBT trainer, and specializing in suicide risk assessment and intervention providing capacity building to mental health professionals and the general population.

National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of General Medical Science, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University and Bradley Hospital