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    Maui observes Suicide Prevention Month: Join the upcoming sign waving and training events : Maui Now

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    Maui observes Suicide Prevention Month: Join the upcoming sign waving and training events : Maui Now

    File Photo: MEO Youth Services organizes an annual suicide awareness sign-waving event to mark Suicide Prevention Month in September. PC: MEO.

    The state of Hawai‘i recognizes September as “Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month,” with the Sept. 10 observed globally every year as World Suicide Prevention Day.

    Events on Maui include sign-waving at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Shopping Center and safeTALK training at UH Maui College on Sept. 10, followed by Crisis Intervention Team Training on Sept. 30.

    Suicide remains a serious public health challenge with long-lasting effects on individuals, families and communities. The most recent results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) showed an estimated 13.9 million US adults aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide in 2025. In Hawai‘i, suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death overall. Adults aged 25-34 years old have the highest rate of suicide.

    Suicide prevention in Hawai‘i is a comprehensive effort between state, community, military and federal partners. Hawaiʻi was one of the first states to establish a statewide suicide prevention gatekeeper training network, as well as one of the first states to host an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention ʻPaws for Prevention’ event. The state has also received multiple major federal grants providing suicide prevention resources for youth, state workers, farmers, first responders, veterans and rural communities.

    “Suicide prevention isn’t the work of one agency or one program — it’s the work of an entire community,” said Governor Josh Green. “From our first responders and our schools to our neighbors and loved ones checking in on each other, every single connection matters. This Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, I’m asking all of us to be part of that effort.”

    “Suicide prevention is a shared responsibility that depends on compassion, connection and community,” said Dr. Gavin Takenaka, Adult Mental Health Division administrator, Hawaiʻi Department of Health. “During Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, we encourage everyone across Hawai‘i to learn the warning signs, reach out to one another — and remind those who may be struggling that help is available and hope is real.”

    From training to sign waving to walks, multiple agencies are doing their part to bring awareness to suicide. Among the partners supporting events this month is the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Task Force.

    “The coordinating role of the taskforce is instrumental to saving lives and forwarding Hawaiʻi’s Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention (titled ‘Cultivating Well-being and Resilience Across Our Islands Through Connection, Caring, and Collaborating’),” said Danielle Bergan, statewide co-chair of the Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Task Force. “We are so grateful for the task force’s collective passion and dedication to Hawaiʻi’s suicide prevention movement. While we dedicate September as Suicide Prevention and Awareness month, the task force network operates daily in communities across Hawai‘i, empowering everyone to realize their role in preventing suicide and emphasizing that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

    “Hawai‘i has incredibly dedicated suicide prevention partners and advocates, but you don’t have to be an expert to save lives,” said Renee Yu, suicide prevention public health educator for the DOH Emergency Medical Systems of Care. “We can all do our part to prevent suicide by listening, making connections and reducing stigma through our everyday interactions.”

    If you are struggling, resources are available. Help is just a call, text, or chat away.

    988 is now the three-digit dialing code that routes callers to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (or 988 Lifeline). On July 16, 2022, the 988 Lifeline transitioned away from the National Suicide Prevention Line reached through a 10-digit number to the three-digit 988 Lifeline. It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant).

    When people call, text, or chat with the 988 Lifeline, they are connected to trained crisis counselors who are part of the existing 988 Lifeline network, made up of over 200 local crisis centers. These crisis counselors are trained to provide free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress and connect them to resources. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States.

    The previous 988 Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

    Resources:

    • Hawai‘i CARES 988 is a free and anonymous crisis, mental health and substance use call center. Locally trained and qualified staff provide supportive counseling and screening for urgent or emergent mental health or substance use needs, recommendations for behavioral health assessments, services and crisis interventions. Call or text 98824 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit hicares.hawaii.gov.
    • To learn more about suicide prevention in Hawai‘i, participate in free, anonymous online suicide prevention training, visit https://health.hawaii.gov/emsipsb/injury-prevention/suicide-prevention/.
    • Hawai‘i Poison Center provides help for poisoning emergencies. Call 1-800-222-1222. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
    • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawai‘i Chapter brings people together from all backgrounds to prevent suicide and bring hope to those affected by suicide. To learn more, visit www.afsp.org/hawaii.
    • Visit the Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Task Force website for local resources.

    2026 Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month Events

    State:

    • Sept. 5: Hawai‘i Governor’s Proclamation at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s annual Out-of-the-Darkness Walk Oʻahu, Magic Island, Honolulu.

    Maui:

    • Sept. 10: Sign waving by Maui Prevention Suicide Task Force, MEO Youth and YouthLine Hawai‘i in front of the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Shopping Center, 4:30-5:30 p.m. For information, email bergan001@hawaii.rr.com.  
    • Sept. 10: SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Training, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. For information, email Wendy.Schwartz@va.gov.
    • Sept. 30: Crisis Intervention Team Training, Maui Police Department, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

    Moloka‘i:

    • Sept 17-18 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Child & Family Service is hosting an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, a two-day interactive workshop supported by the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Location is Child & Family Service Molokaʻi Office, limited seats are available. For more information, please contact mbell@cfs-hawaii.org.
    • Sept. 19: Molokaʻi Suicide Awareness and Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk, Molokaʻi Community Health Center, 4 p.m. until sunset. For information, contact 808-757-0460.

    Lānaʻi :

    • Sept. 16: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention sign waving, 4:30-5:30 p.m., check in at 4 p.m. near flagpole outside Dole Building. Bring your own signs.
    • Oct. 2: SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Training, noon-4 p.m., Lānaʻi Public School Library, Lānaʻi City. To register, visit Lanaʻi safeTALK Training Registration.

    Kaua‘i:

    • Aug. 27-28 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Child & Family Service is hosting an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, a two-day interactive workshop supported by the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Location is Child & Family Service Kauaʻi Hale Holomua Office, limited seats are available. For more information, please contactmbell@cfs-hawaii.org.
    • Aug. 30: September Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month Kick-off Movie and Resources Night. For information, emailpreventsuicidekauai@gmail.com.
    • Sept.10: Ola Pono O Kaua‘i Mental Health Conference and Mayor Derek Kawakami proclamation. For information, emailpreventsuicidekauai@gmail.com.
    • Sept. 3: Prevent Suicide Kaua‘i Task Force sign-waving on the county lawn, 3:30-4:30 p.m. For information, emailpreventsuicidekauai@gmail.com.   
    • Sept. 23: Suicide Prevention 101 Training by, Prevent Suicide Kaua‘i Task Force. 3-4:30 p.m. Join via Zoom at PreventSuicideKauai.org.
    • For updates on Prevent Suicide Kaua‘i Task Force activities, visit: PreventSuicideKauai.org.

    O‘ahu:

    Hawai‘i Island:

    Military:

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