Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 9, 1 September 2018 — September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month

OLAKINO YOUR HEALĪH

OHA research reveals higher suicide rates among Native Hawaiians By Ka Wai o!a Staff Arecent study by the Centers for Disease Control shows a steep increase in suicides in states across the nation. The study, whieh looked at the

period from 1999 to 2016, revealed that suicide rates had increased by more than 30 percent in half of the states; in Hawai'i the rate increased 18 percent. Researchers at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs found the suicide rate is considerably higher for Native Hawaiians. According to OHA's 2017 Kānehō'ālani report, Hawaiians and other Paeihe Islander men are

twice as likely to commit suicide than their female counterparts. Their suicide rate is nearly double that of the second highest ethnic group. The authors noted "Kāne susceptibility to suicide and the factors that inhuenee such negative outcomes need to be better understood, and promptly addressed from a prevention lens." When it comes to Hawaiian females, OHA's 2018 Haumea report uncovered a troubling trend

in the vulnerability of Hawaiian girls, whose suicidal ideation peaks at 28.5 percent in the 12th grade, according to a study of public high schoolers. Female students consider suicide more than twice as mueh as males. "Further, the next highest highest rates show 10th grade as the time when more 'ōpio (male and female combined) are seriously considering suicidal attempts (47.4

percent)," accord- W ing to the report. Haumea includes a section on Mental and i - 1 t t„„ul.

Emohonal Youth and 'Ōpio, whieh addresses depression, eating disorders, selfharm and a range of suicidal behaviors in young wāhine.

Both the Kānehō'ālani and Haumea reports are available on OHA's website: > Kānehō'ālani Native Hawaiian Men's Health Report : www. oha.org/kanehealth > Haumea: Transforming tlie Health ofNative Hawaiian Women anā Empowering Wāhine Well-Be-ing: www.oha.org/wahinehealth ■

Above, Houmeo and Kānehō'ālani reports. ■ Cover art: Courtesy Stacey Leong Design and Solmon Enos

A chart in the Haumea report shows how Native Hawaiian high school students compared with their non-Hawaiian counterparts and the state as a whole in 2015:

Nole: Ethnicity = D0H Race/Ethnicity Source: Hawai'i Healih Data Warehouse. (2017) Hawai'i Department ofHealth, Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

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Grade Ethnicity Gender 9th 10th 11th 12th All High School Overall Female 26.1 27.7 15.1 28.5 24.1% Native Hawaiian 19.6% Male 11.9 19.7 15.5 13.1 15.5% .. .... Q Female 21.9 22.3 14.4 15.6 18.7% 14 g0/ Hawaiian Male 9.2 10.5 11.2 12.0 10.6% Female 23.3 23.1 15.2 18.1 20.1% State 16.0% Male 9.9 12.8 12.4 11.8 11.7%