In this edition, we feature a handful of the upcoming sessions that we’re looking forward to hosting at the 2022 Hawaii State of Reform Health Policy Conference.
State of Reform spoke with some of Hawaii’s behavioral health experts on what the state, providers, schools, and communities can do to improve Hawaii child mental health.
Hawaii Tourism Authority's tourism management plans; Federal aid for local arts and culture; Reality Check with Civil Beat; Brain Tumor Awareness Month;
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Suicide rates were lower than in previous years across all Hawaii counties during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while this trend is encouraging, state officials continue to work year-round to spread awareness and push suicide prevention, especially among young adults.
Given the amount of financial and emotional stress caused by the pandemic, early 2020 data provided by the state Department of Health does not indicate a significant connection of suicide to COVID-19; the average number of deaths by suicide were higher in February just before the pandemic hit and lowest in April, June, September and December.
“Conclusion was no apparent increase in deaths by suicide in 2020 compared to previous years, in any county,” said Dr. Dan Galanis, a state epidemiologist in DOH’s Injury Prevention Branch. “I think there have been reports on Mainland suicide that indicate an increase, however.”