The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has partnered with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UH) and various state, local, military, public, and private sector entities to support the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan. The initiative aims to address suicide prevention by fostering connections with both traditional and non-traditional partners. This effort targets groups disproportionately affected by suicide in Hawaii, including men, rural communities, minorities, and essential workers such as farmers and first responders.
Suicide is a significant concern in Hawaii, being the second-leading cause of fatal injuries among residents. On average, nearly four people die from suicide each week in the state. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 1,051 residents died by suicide. Notably, over 76% of these individuals were men, with those aged 20 to 59 facing the highest risk for suicide death. Among females, those aged 15 to 19 had the highest risk for attempted suicide. Both suicides and attempts have profound emotional, mental health, physical health, and economic impacts.
The Culturally-Based Community Connections for Resilience (CCCR) project is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Minority Health. It seeks to establish a sustainable peer-mentor network among Hawaii’s essential workers to mitigate suicide risks through enhanced social connectedness and relationship building.
Professor Thao Le, principal investigator for CCCR stated: “It may seem suicide is a lone event — it is not. A major reason though is feeling alone. We need a course correction and can only do this when we create conditions for connections internally and externally across all levels and all sectors.”
Mark Kunimune from CCCR added: “Passive suicide is a slow and silent killer in the Emergency Medical Services profession. Having a program such as this one can begin to make a huge difference.”
Renee Yu from DOH's EMSIPSB emphasized: “Suicide can be preventable but effective suicide prevention needs partners across the state from different sectors and disciplines to care connect and collaborate. CCCR and initiatives like CCCR brought to our state by our amazing suicide prevention partners are saving lives and families.”
For those struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviors resources are available through calls texts or chats.