Women, Mental Health and El Salvador: Journalists Bring Reporting to Northwestern Medill

Journalists Almudena Toral and Patricia Clarembaux bring their reporting on women's health and suicide rates in El Salvador to Campus Consortium partner Northwestern Medill School of Journalism for a two-day visit on Thursday, November 14 and Friday, November 15, 2019.

In their reporting Toral and Clarembaux found that suicide represents 57 percent of the cause of death among girls 10-19 years old in El Salvador, the second mortality cause in that group. It is also the fourth cause of death among women 20-49 years old. 

Lack of access to abortion is part of the problem, but not the only contributing factor to high rate of suicide. Sexual violence, even in one's home, stigma, and gang violence make for a troubled formula in a setting of impunity. Toral and Clarembaux will explore these issues from their reporting during their visit with Northwestern Medill students and faculty.

Ann Peters, university and community outreach director at the Pulitzer Center, participates in the visit to share information about the Campus Consortium network and the reporting fellowship opportunities for students to cover underreported global stories.