HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

143

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING the Department of Health to establish and operate a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program that focuses upon, but is not necessarily limited to, persons between the ages of ten and twenty-four.

 

 

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 between the ages of ten and twenty-four; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, suicide is the second leading cause of death among persons between the age of fifteen and twenty-four and 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 demonstrates that youth suicide is linked to underlying mental health problems that can be addressed through early intervention and prevention strategies and providing these intervention and prevention strategies to deal with rising rates of youth suicide has been listed as a national health priority; and

WHEREAS, Congress passed federal 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 that seek to provide effective early intervention and prevention services; and

WHEREAS, suicide is a serious public health tragedy affecting children and young adults in Hawaii and preserving and protecting the lives of children and young adults is a high priority and is necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of 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, that the Department of Health is requested to establish and operate a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program that focuses upon, but is not necessarily limited to, persons between the ages of ten and twenty-four, to accomplish the following:

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

(2) Build community networks concerning youth suicide prevention; and

(3) Carry out training programs for suicide prevention for law enforcement personnel, providers of health care, school 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, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

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

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

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

(4) Examining trends in youth 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 assistance to at least the following entities:

(1) The counties;

(2) Native Hawaiian health and community organizations;

(3) Institutions of higher education;

(4) Public organizations;

(5) Private nonprofit organizations; and

(6) Health and social service organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to provide specialized training to the Department of Education personnel who confront the challenge of early identification of students at risk of suicide or who have daily contact with students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health who, in turn, is requested to distribute copies to institutions of higher education, public organizations, private nonprofit organizations, and health and social service organizations, the Superintendent and Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Mayor and Chairperson of the Council of each county, and the Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Youth Suicide Prevention; DOH; Statewide program