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Acknowledging Suicide Prevention Month on Maui is key for the mental wellness of our community. Raising awareness is essential in prevention work. The more community members know what to look for as risk factors and warning signs, the more lives we can reach and help them move away from suicidal ideation towards good mental health and wellness.
Since the Maui wildfires last year, the potential for a rise in suicides is very possible. This is based on studies from the CDC on suicide rates following a natural disaster. While our current reported numbers do not show any significant increase, we do know that between 5% – 20% of suicides go unreported in any community. This underreporting can be for various reason such as stigma, possible life insurance pay outs to families losing a loved one, and ohana's who want privacy.
Prevention efforts of Mental Health America of Hawaii (MHAH) and the E Ola Hou Maui Suicide Prevention Task Force go hand in hand in raising awareness and working on prevention efforts in our community. MHAH facilitates youth trainings such as Youth Suicide and Bullying Prevention, Self-Care for Youth (which is the front end of suicide prevention by building protective factors that help insulate a youth from suicidal ideation), and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) for adults who work with youth. For adults, MHAH facilitates Suicide Prevention Foundations (SP 101), a basic one-hour suicide prevention training that educates adults on warning signs, risk factors, safe messaging and how to ask the question, "Are you thinking of taking your life". Adult Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) instructs participants how to assist in a non-crisis or crisis situations with a focus on suicide prevention. Recently added trainings this year include safeTALK and ASIST. safeTALK is a 3-hour training that teaches participants to become suicide alert helpers. ASIST is a 2-day training that focuses on connection, understanding choices and assisting life. For trainings by Mental Health America of Hawaii go to https://mentalhealthhawaii.org/online-trainings/ or call 808-242-6461 for more information.
The E Ola Hou task force also provides SP 101, safeTALK and ASIST trainings. They will be adding Sources of Strength later this year. Like YMHFA and Self-Care for Youth, Sources of Strength is a youth mental health program striving to prevent suicide and opioid use by improving self-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and adults. The goal is to encourage students to assess and develop their strengths and to spread messages of Hope, Health and Strength within their community. For a list of training's by the task force go to https://preventsuicidemauicounty.weebly.com/meetings-and-training.html or call 808-268-7470.
Key factors for community members are to keep an eye on your ohana, neighbors, classmates, teammates, friends, and co-workers. If someone talks or writes online about suicide, ask them if they are serious. Give them the attention they need. If you notice someone not acting themselves for more than 2 weeks, ask yourself, are they isolating, do they seem depressed, are they going through a stressful life event. If the answer is yes, talk story with them in a private place. Be empathetic with them while telling them what you have been noticing. If you feel they are at risk for suicide, ask the question, "Are you thinking of taking your life?" Asking this question does not raise the risk of suicide. If anything, it opens the door to get help. If they say yes, ask follow-up questions such as, "Do you have a plan?", "Do you have the means to do it?", "Have you decided when to do it?"
Remember, your goal is not to solve their problems, but rather to help get them safe. Offer to sit with them and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, Hawaii Cares at 800-753-6879, or text ALOHA to the crisis text line at 741741. They have professionals who will help get them the help they need.
We can't do this alone and we need your help and support. Please, take a training and learn how to help. Know that asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness. Use the resources mentioned in this article and remember, you can make a difference!
n Danielle Bergan is the Maui Community Coordinator for Mental Health America of Hawaii