Representative Nadine
K. Nakamura talks to reporters about the Legislature passing suicide prevention
bills along with other lawmakers and Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force members.
Task force statistics reveal youth, especially on neighbor
islands,
most at
risk
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Legislature has passed two important measures to help prevent suicide and to bring awareness to a disturbing increase in youth suicides in Hawaiʻi, especially on the neighbor
islands.
HB655
HD1 SD1 designates September as
"Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" to promote public
awareness regarding suicide prevention and education, resources, and support
available to individuals, families, and communities.
HB330
HD1 SD1 CD1 appropriates $150,000 to the Department of Health to support youth suicide
early intervention, prevention, and education initiatives in all counties focusing on youth between the ages of 10 through 24.
"It is critical
that we bring awareness to suicide as a public health issue, and work to
educate and support individuals, families, and communities in the state," said
Representative Nadine K. Nakamura,
vice chair of the Human Services & Homelessness Committee and introducer
of HB330.
"Suicide was
the leading cause of injury-related deaths for Hawaiʻi youth from 2013 to 2017. Suicide rates are
higher among young people, especially from the neighbor islands and rural
communities, and alarmingly high among Hawaiʻi's LGBTQ youth," said Rep. Nakamura (Hanalei,
Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Kapaʻa, Wailua).
The Prevent
Suicide Hawaiʻi
Taskforce's 2018 report to the Legislature found that the rate of
suicide deaths in Hawaiʻi has
been increasing, especially during the past 10 years. The Taskforce found
that between 2012-2016, suicide was the number one cause of fatal injuries of
people ages 15-44 in Hawaiʻi, and the number one cause of fatal injuries among
all Hawaiʻi residents.
On Oʻahu, 66 youth for every 100,000 people die
as a result of suicide;
on Maui it is 86 per 100,000; on Kauaʻi
it is 92, and on Hawaiʻi
Island it is 117.
Sen. Rosalyn H. Baker (South and West Maui), Chair
of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, said it
is very important to give neighbor island communities the help they desperately
need to prevent youth suicides.
"It can be
difficult to seek help, and even more so if you live in a community that does
not have adequate services to support mental health issues," said Senator
Baker. "We must de-stigmatize conversations around mental health, and
provide residents in all communities, and especially on neighbor islands and in
rural areas, the health support services they need."
Established
in 2016 by HCR 66, the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force – comprised of
government agencies and private community groups – provides leadership,
develops strategies, coordinates activities, and monitors progress of suicide
prevention efforts in Hawaiʻi.
In
2017, the Task Force – in collaboration with the Emergency Medical Services and
Injury Prevention System Branch – created a strategic plan to reduce suicide
25% by 2025. Among the key recommendations of the Task Force is to develop and
implement a public awareness campaign. Designating September as “Suicide
Prevention and Awareness Month” will play a key part in advancing this recommendation
and raising greater awareness overall.
Task force member
Pua Kaninau-Santos, who lost her son Kaniela to suicide in April 2003, said no
one can imagine the pain of losing a family member to suicide, but she has
learned that there is no one solution to solving the problem.
"We know so
well that suicide is preventable and a lot of hard work by everyone here has
brought us to this moment," said Kaninau-Santos. "I want to thank the
Legislature for their support. Together we are going to try to save those lives
crying out for help."
House Majority Leader Representative Della Au Belatti
said the strength of the Task Force lies in its diversity bringing together the
military, Native Hawaiians, educators, neighbor island residents, and youth.
"To prevent
suicide, we need to bring awareness to the problem and must allocate adequate
resources to support education and early intervention," said Rep. Belatti (Makiki, Tantalus, Papakōlea,
McCully, Pāwa‘a, Mānoa). "We know access to health care resources,
including mental health services, can be significantly more challenging for
residents on the neighbor islands than on Oʻahu. The Legislature is committed to
providing funding to close this gap."
Both bills now
advance to Governor Ige for approval or veto.
Contacts for anyone
who may need help or support:
Crisis Line of Hawaii
Oahu: 832-3100
Neighbor Islands: 1-800-753-6879
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Crisis Text Line
Text CONNECT to 741741
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