University of Hawaiʻi Department of Psychiatry faculty member, Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Task Force chair, offers her expertise regarding CDC report showing rising national trend in suicides
By Tina Shelton, JABSOM Communications Director
The deaths of two public figures in a week and a newly released report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are focusing attention on the tragedy of suicide.
The CDC on Thursday reported that the rates of suicide in the nation have risen dramatically.
Like many other states, Hawaiʻi’s suicide rate has been increasing. In Hawaiʻi, one person dies by suicide every two days. CDC’s report does provide detailed analyses on context around suicide deaths in 27 states; unfortunately, Hawaiʻi is not included in those data. However, according to University of Hawaiʻi psychiatry researcher Dr. Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda, Hawaiʻi became a participant of CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System a few years ago, so we are starting to get more detailed information for our State.
Dr. Sugimoto-Matsuda, an Assistant Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), said she appreciates the weight given in the report to the important roles played by partners in suicide prevention – including primary care and mental health providers, as well as champions within workplaces, government housing, education, social services, law enforcement, and other areas. “This comprehensiveness is reflected in the Strategic Plan recently completed and reported to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature by the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Taskforce,” said Dr. Sugimoto-Matsuda.
Dr. Sugimoto-Matsuda is shown at ceremony in 2017 naming her Outstanding Community Mental Health Worker.
Dr. Sugimoto-Matsuda leads the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Task Force — a team of community partners implementing suicide prevention programs on every island in Hawaiʻi and working closely with each site to develop suicide prevention action plans.
Sugimoto-Matsuda also urged news media to consult guidelines about reporting of suicide. See: http://reportingonsuicide.org/
If you or someone you know needs help, don’t hesitate to reach out:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line – send a text to 741-741