About Us

About the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Taskforce

The Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce (PSHTF) is the state’s major public-private collaborative of over 150 members specifically focusing on suicide prevention. PSHTF members provide leadership, set goals and objectives, develop strategies, coordinate activities, and monitor the progress of suicide prevention efforts in Hawai‘i. In addition, an email list is maintained for the PSHTF. Examples of information that is shared through the email listserv are: agendas of upcoming meetings; minutes of past meetings; notices of future meetings and conferences; and local and national information shared by PSHTF members and the Department of Health Suicide Prevention Coordinator.



The PSHTF was tasked by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature to craft a Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention in Hawaiʻi. The final plan and report can be found here (bound copies also available by request): https://go.hawaii.edu/k8k.  


‘Ike aku, ‘ike mai, kokua aku kokua mai; pela iho la ka nohana ‘ohana.

Recognize others (watch), be recognized (observe), help others, be helped; such is the family/community way.

‘Ōlelo No‘eau Pukui (1983), No. 1200

Co-Chairs

Gina Kaulukukui

gkaulukukui@kauai.gov

Gina Kaulukukui is the Domestic Violence Interventions Coordinator for the Kauaʻi Police Department, and the co-founder and Executive Director of Life’s Bridges. Life's Bridges is a Kauaʻi-based non-profit organization bridging the gap between grief and healing. As a survivor of three suicide deaths in her family, she is actively involved in suicide prevention and postvention work. She helped to establish the Prevent Suicide Kaua'i Task Force and serves as the current co-chair of the Statewide Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Taskforce. As a fun fact, one of Gina's favorite past-times is visiting the 9th Island. 

Deb Goebert

goebertd@dop.hawaii.edu

Deborah Goebert, Dr.P.H. is Professor at the University of Hawai‘i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and the Office of Public Health Studies. She is an inaugural member of the Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce. She is also the Co-director of Hawaii’s Caring Systems Initiative for Youth Suicide Prevention. Her research and scholarly work center on the social-cultural determinants of mental health and well-being by identifying disparities and implementing culturally-aligned interventions through collaborative partnerships. Most importantly, Deb likes to laugh.

Zerui "Renee" Yu

ZeruiRenee.Yu@doh.hawaii.gov

Zerui "Renee" Yu serves as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the State of Hawaiʻi - Department of Health - Emergency Services & Injury Prevent System Branch. She has a Masters of Public Health (MPH), is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a registered Art Therapist (ATR). Renee is based on the island of Oʻahu and is a caring, supportive resource person and guide for each of our island task forces who advocates on our behalf at the governmental and community levels. Renee's favorite self-care activity is reading.