STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3577

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 197

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 197 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP PROTOCOLS FOR HOSPITALS IN THE STATE TO IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to develop protocols for hospitals in the State to improve the treatment of patients contemplating suicide.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Kahi Mohala.

Your Committee finds that suicide is the second leading cause of death among fifteen to thirty-four year olds and the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States. Your Committee further finds that health care organizations have a unique opportunity to help prevent suicide, since people at risk of suicide are often seen in health care settings and the majority of those who die by suicide were seen by a professional in the year prior to their death, yet were not diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Care for people with suicide risk is highly variable, and gaps in care for individuals at risk of suicide exist. A study to develop recommendations is needed to close those gaps. This measure requests the Department of Health to develop protocols for hospitals in the State to improve the treatment of patients contemplating suicide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Health to develop protocols to improve the treatment of patients contemplating suicide in consultation with hospitals in the State, including Kahi Mohala; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.C.R. No. 197, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 197, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair