HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – May is Mental Health Month, and advocates are asking the public to join in the effort to spread awareness and break down the stigma surrounding mental health care.
The state Department of Health and its partners said they are working to positively impact social change with a focus on equity and inclusion for people with mental health concerns.
On Wednesday, the city will host a community event at the Hawaii State Capitol from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The public is invited to take a mental health break, get some sunshine and fresh air, and check out some of the 27 organizations sharing their advocacy efforts.
In addition to community events, the city is lighting up various buildings across Oahu with green lights.
Green is the color of the nation of mental health acceptance and represents hope, strength, support and encouragement for people living with mental health concerns.
Overall, Mental Health Month encourages people to start having difficult conversations about caring for their mental health, which experts say is an important public health issue for all ages. .
The research revealed the following:
- One in six young people has a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder
- 1 in 5 adults live with a mental health concern
- One in four seniors over the age of 65 experience mental health concerns.
According to the CDC's 2021 Hawaii Youth Risk Behavior Survey, youth:
- More than half of public school students (54% of middle school students and 56% of high school students) receive little or no support that they need (feeling sad, empty, hopeless, angry, or anxious). among students who reported).
- Among public middle school students, 34% have felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks and have stopped normal activities, and 27% have seriously considered suicide.
- Among public high school students, 35% have felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks in the past 12 months, and have stopped normal activities, and 17% have seriously considered attempting suicide.
read more: Emphasizing suicide prevention, advocates share their stories to 'end the silence'
According to NSDUH state-level estimates for 2021 and 2022, approximately 21.5% of adults in Hawaii suffered from a mental illness in the past year.
Additionally, the 2022 Hawaii Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) showed that the state of Hawaii:
- More than one in three adults (35.8%) reported at least one day in the past 30 days when their mental health was poor.
- One in eight adults (12.5%) have been told by a health professional that they have depression.
“In light of recent disasters and tragedies, it is even more important that residents have access to prompt, comprehensive and culturally sensitive mental health assistance,” said Courtney, Acting Administrator of DOH’s Division of Adult Mental Health.・Dr. Matsu stated.
Mental health resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental crisis or suicidal thoughts and needs extra emotional support or substance use resources, you can:
- Call, text or chat with Hawaiian CARES 988. Hawaii CARES 988 has a 24/7 toll-free call center that connects you with a local trained counselor who can help connect you to behavioral health crisis services.
- You can also call Aloha United Way 211, text, chat, or email to access more than 4,000 local resources.
Click here to learn more about Hawaii's child mental health services.
Click here to learn more about adult mental health services in Hawaii.
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