Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.R. No. 53 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to develop a comprehensive statewide youth suicide and early intervention and prevention plan to provide effective early intervention and prevention services to deal with the rising rates of youth suicides.

Your Committee received comments on this resolution from the State of Hawaii, Department of Health and testimony in support from the Hawaii Suicide Prevention Steering Committee.

Your Committee finds that 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

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. Moreover, in Hawaii suicide is the second leading cause of death among those who are fifteen to twenty-four years of age and the rates of youth suicide have been on the rise in the last decade among both females and males and among all ethnic groups in Hawaii. 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.

Accordingly, your Committee notes that a concerted statewide youth suicide education, intervention, and prevention plan is needed to ensure prevention strategies to effectively deal with youth suicide.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 53 and recommends its adoption.