SB979 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that suicide is a serious public health tragedy affecting many people in Hawaii. More children and young adults die from suicide each year than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, and chronic lung disease combined. Nationally, over four thousand youths take their lives annually, making suicide the seventh leading cause of death across the country and the second leading cause of death among persons fifteen to twenty-four years old.

In Hawaii, suicide is the number one cause of injury related death, surpassing death rates from motor vehicle accidents, which average one death every three days. In addition, one thousand four hundred attempted suicides are serious enough that medical treatment is required.

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, males are more likely than females to commit suicide. Among all of the ethnic groups, native Hawaiian youths are more likely to attempt or commit suicide. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Hawaii youth reported the highest rates of suicidal ideation in the nation on three to five questions pertaining to suicide and depression on the survey.

Research demonstrates that youth suicide is linked to underlying mental health problems that can be addressed through early intervention and prevention strategies. Intervention and prevention strategies have been listed as a national health priority to deal with rising rates of youth suicide. In addition, Congress passed federal legislation in 2004, and appropriated $82,000,000 over three years, for statewide programs designed to help prevent youth suicide. 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.

The purpose of this Act is to preserve and protect the lives of our children and young adults by establishing a youth suicide early intervention and prevention program for Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321- Youth suicide early intervention and prevention program. (a) There is established within the department of health a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program with a primary focus on persons between the ages of ten and twenty-four. The program shall be administered by the department to:

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

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

(3) Carry out training programs on 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.

(b) The department shall provide appropriate research, training, and technical assistance for the following:

(1) Providing oversight of 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.

(1) Political subdivisions of the State;

(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;

provided that specialized training shall be specifically provided 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.

(d) The department of health shall develop and submit proposals, where appropriate, for funding from federal agencies and private organizations to support the purposes of this section.

(e) The department of health shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the establishment and administration of a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	979
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII