Puerto Rican teens today,

Have limited options to access mental health services routinely and in an emergency.

0%

chance of being poor

0%

chance or more of having anxiety

0%

or more with depression

0%

reported having suicidal thoughts

0%

Are experiencing bullying in school

0%

Are experiencing electronic bullying

An Urgent Need

For the last eight years, Puerto Rican children and youth have grown up amid natural and biological catastrophes, school closings, community displacements, increased migration, economic crisis, and a breakdown of social institutions.

Children and teens experiencing poverty, compounded with stress and trauma. Those who face bullying, abuse, neglect, or any other life hardship face serious difficulty getting help due to severe cutbacks in health programs.

Their future is weighed down with uncertainty. They are more exposed to being made vulnerable and at a greater risk of developing a mental health condition.

For too long, youth mental health has been an unmet need.

Brega Bien is our collective answer.

That Requires An Answer

In 2000, Iniciativa Comunitaria de Investigación (ICI) launched Brega Bien, a prevention and education program for high-risk youth. Since then, over 5,000 children and teens have benefited from resilience-building interventions across Puerto Rico.