HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

69

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A STATEWIDE SUICIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM.

 

 

WHEREAS, more children and young adults die from suicide each year than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, and chronic lung disease combined; and

WHEREAS, nationally, over four thousand youths take their lives annually, making suicide the third largest cause of death among those who are between ten and twenty-four years of age; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, suicide is the second leading cause of death among those who are fifteen to twenty-four years of age; and

WHEREAS, the rates of youth suicide have been on the rise in the last decade among both females and males and among all ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, males are more likely than females to commit suicide, and native Hawaiian youths are the most likely ethnic group to attempt or commit suicide; and

WHEREAS, research has demonstrated that youth suicide is linked to underlying mental health problems; and

WHEREAS, early intervention and prevention strategies have been listed as a national health priority to deal with the rising rates of youth suicide; and

WHEREAS, Congress passed legislation in 2004 and appropriated $82,000,000 over the next three years for statewide programs designed to help prevent youth suicide, and many states have already developed comprehensive statewide youth suicide and early intervention and prevention strategies to provide effective early intervention and prevention services; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds and declares that suicide is a serious public health tragedy affecting not only children and young adults, but all adults in Hawaii, and preserving and protecting the lives of all people is a priority for the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to establish and operate a statewide suicide early intervention and prevention program for people of all ages; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the program shall operate to:

(1) Create public awareness of issues relating to suicide prevention;

(2) Build community networks concerning suicide prevention; and

(3) Carry out training programs for suicide prevention for law enforcement personnel, providers of health care, Department of Education, and University of Hawaii employees, and other persons who have contact with individuals at risk of suicide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to provide appropriate research, training, and technical assistance for the program, including:

(1) Providing oversight on suicide early intervention and prevention strategies;

(2) Identifying and understanding causes and associated risk factors of suicide;

(3) Analyzing the efficacy of new and existing suicide early intervention techniques and technologies;

(4) Examining trends in suicidal behaviors and nonfatal suicidal attempts;

(5) Evaluating and disseminating outcomes and best practices of mental and behavioral health services at institutions of higher education; and

(6) Other activities deemed appropriate by the Director of Health; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to provide research, training, and technical assistance to achieve the purposes of the program, to the following entities:

(1) The counties;

(2) Native Hawaiian health and community organizations;

(3) Institutions of higher education;

(4) The Department of Education;

(5) Public organizations;

(6) Private nonprofit organizations; and

(7) Health and social service organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to develop and submit proposals for funding from federal agencies and private organizations to support the operations of the program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the Superintendent of Education, the President of the University of Hawaii, and the Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

SUICIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM