HONOLULU – In response to the urgent need for resources to address the youth mental health crisis in our local communities, Hawai‘i Medical Service Association announced today an investment totaling $125,000 to support several initiatives statewide. Five unique programs spread across all four counties will receive $25,000 each to improve youth mental health in Hawaii while reducing disparities.

The KIDS COUNT 2022 Hawaii profile found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on Hawaii’s young people: Nearly 2,200 more youth struggled with anxiety or depression in 2020 than in 2016, an increase of 23%.

“Our teenage population is struggling due to limited access to mental health resources, and we need to work together to support overall health conditions,” said HMSA President and Chief Executive Officer Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., F.A.C.S. “We recognize that Hawaii’s youth were uniquely impacted by the global pandemic, so we are proud to support key organizations in our community to help improve youth mental health in our state.”

According to Hawaii Health Matters, the most recent data on Hawaii teens who attempted suicide in 2019 show that 3.2% of public high school students reported at least one suicide attempt that required medical attention, compared to 2.5% nationally. The numbers are even more staggering for Native Hawaiians [PDF] or when broken down by county. HMSA’s investments will support partner organizations and their work to address root causes of these disparities while providing innovative crisis support.

Mental Health America of Hawaii, an organization that seeks to promote mental health and wellness through education, advocacy, service, and access to care statewide, is one of the beneficiaries of this initiative.

“Through the generous support of HMSA, we will be able to expand the reach of our statewide Youth Suicide & Bullying Prevention program with special emphasis placed on reaching youth and youth-serving adults in rural and isolated parts of the state,” said Bryan Talisayan, MHAH executive director. “Since 2008, the YSBP program has trained nearly 30,000 Hawaii youth and youth-serving adults and has evolved to include components like Suicide Prevention 101 and Youth Mental Health First Aid certifications for adults. We project that we will reach an additional 2,000 youth and 1,000 youth-serving adults over the course of a year as a direct result of HMSA’s support.”

HMSA will support the following community organizations to increase access to mental health resources as part of this initiative:

• Hale ‘Ōpio Kaua‘i, Ke Kahua O Ka Malamalama program (Kauai)

  Hale ‘Ōpio provides culturally grounded, youth-driven, family centered collaborative services that reflect the continuous positive regard in which youth and family are held. The Ke Kahua O Ka Malamalama program is an after-school and intercession program where youth learn and practice Hawaiian arts, cultural traditions, and values taught by selected kupuna while exploring their natural environment.

• Boys and Girls Club of Maui, One Stop Resource Center

  BGCM operates drop-in service facilities that provide a safe, supportive, supervised environment for Maui youth. BGCM is establishing Maui's first One Stop Resource Center for youth. The center will provide youth and their families a more seamless support system and easier access to services including suicide prevention, anger management, technology access, and more.

• Big Island Substance Abuse Council, BISAC Youth Services program

  BISAC is one of the leading providers of substance abuse treatment and behavioral health care on the Big Island. BISAC Youth Services is a school-based program servicing 10 schools. They provide substance use counseling, prevention education, vaping support groups, links to community resources, and workshops for students, parents, and staff as well as referrals to higher levels of care.

• Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Teen Resiliency Program

  Hawaii Pacific Health’s Behavioral Health Division seeks to address rising teen suicide rates by establishing an intervention program to identify young people and families at risk and increase protective mechanisms to keep them from harm. As the hub of pediatric care in Hawaii, Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children has witnessed the rise in youth suicide. The Teen Resiliency Program at Kapi‘olani will give patients access to comprehensive care in one place, with resources to meet their routine and emergency needs.

• Mental Health America of Hawaii, Youth Suicide & Bullying Prevention Program

  MHAH’s Youth Suicide & Bullying Program began in 2008 to educate and empower Hawaii’s communities in preventing bullying incidents and suicide among youth. Created by MHAH based on local and national research, this training aims to increase knowledge and understanding of bullying and suicide, identify risk factors and warning signs, and provide skills and resources to prevent or intervene as needed. The training is conducted virtually or in person for a primarily high school audience.

About HMSA

Caring for the people of Hawaii is our promise and our privilege. Working together with employers, partners, and physicians and other health care providers, we promote well-being; develop reliable, affordable health plans; and support members with clear, thoughtful guidance.

HMSA is the most experienced health plan in the state, covering more than half of Hawaii’s population. As a recognized leader, we embrace our responsibility to strengthen the health and well-being of our community.

Headquartered on Oahu with centers and offices statewide to serve our members, HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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