Health officials in Hawaii announced the list of upcoming events to help raise the public's awareness on the risks and prevention of suicide. These events are part of the state's observation of the National Suicide Prevention Week from Sept. 7 to Sept. 13.

In line with the national theme of "Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives," representatives from Hawaii's health department will carry out awareness campaigns in different parts of the state as well as provide support for families and communities regarding the dangers of suicide as a health issue.

"As a society, we need to do more to prevent suicide," Larry Walter, chair of the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force, said. "Increasing public awareness of this health problem, including warning signs and risk factors, is one of the best prevention tools we have."

The activities scheduled by the health department include a sign waving event from Hamakua to Puna, a pride parade and suicide candlelight vigil in Hilo, a suicide survivor vigil and a suicide awareness and prevention walk.

Suicide

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines suicide as a serious and lasting public health problem that can affect individuals, families, and even communities as a whole. While health experts have yet to understand the complexity of its causes and multiple factors, it is generally believed that suicide can be easily prevented.

Risk Factors

The risk of suicide for individuals is often influenced by a combination of several factors, such as individual, community, relational and societal. The following are considered to be only risk factors that could impact the decision of an individual to commit suicide and not the direct causes:

1. Having a history of suicide in the family

2. Having a history of maltreatment as a child

3. Having attempted suicide in the past

4. Having a history of mental disorder such as clinical depression

5. Suffering from substance and alcohol abuse

6. Experiencing the feeling of hopelessness

7. Having tendencies of being aggressive or impulsive

8. Being influenced by religious and cultural beliefs

9. Observing local suicide epidemics

10. Having the feeling of isolation or being cut off from other people

11. Not having easy access to mental health treatment

12. Suffering from a loss relating to work, financial, social or relational

13. Suffering from physical illness

14. Having easy access to life-threatening methods

15. Unwilling to seek help because of the stigma associated with substance abuse and mental health disorders

Protective Factors

Compared to the risk factors typically associated with suicidal tendencies, protective factors have yet to be extensively studied by researchers. These protective factors involve identifying and understanding specific characteristics often seen from an individual at risk to commit suicide such as behavior and suicidal thoughts.

1. Experiencing effective health care for various disorders such as physical, mental and substance abuse

2. Having better access to different clinical interventions and support for seeking expert help

3. Having the support of family and community members

4. Experiencing the support from ongoing mental health care and medical relationships

5. Having skills regarding conflict resolution, problem solving and handling disputes in nonviolent ways

6. Being influenced by religious and cultural beliefs that discourage suicide and promote self-preservation

Suicide in the United States

In 2013, the CDC reported that suicide remains one of leading causes of death across all age groups in the United States. The agency said that there were 41,149 reported cases of individuals committing suicide in the same year alone.

Photo: Guilherme Yagui | Flickr