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The Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce (PSHTF) is the state’s major public-private collaborative of over 150 members dedicated to suicide prevention. 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.
Today, PSHTF members provide leadership, set goals and objectives, develop strategies, coordinate activities, and monitor the progress of suicide prevention efforts in Hawai‘i.
Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda, DrPH – Co-Chair, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai‛i at Mānoa (UHM) (jsugimot@hawaii.edu)
Danielle Bergan – Co-Chair, Maui Mental Health Trainings and Consulting (bergand001@hawaii.rr.com )
Zerui Renee Yu, MPH, LMHC, ATR – Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Department of Health Emergency Medical Services & Injury Prevention Branch
Island Taskforces
Hawai‘i Island – Yolisa Duley and Joy Hohnsteine
Kauaʻi – Priti “Maya” Tayal
Maui – Danielle Bergan and Wendy Schwartz
Hawai‘i United Prevention Task Force(Joint Military): Melody Bell, Stephany Garcia, Brent Ono
Hawai‘i Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and Their Families: Retired Colonel Rob Swanson
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hawai‘i Chapter: Dennis Hida, Karen Ng
Mental Health America of Hawai‘i: Mestissa Gaas
Hawai‘i Department of Health, Kathleen Merriam
Hawai‘i Department of Education, Sheri Taketa
Sign-up for our email list to receive agendas of upcoming meetings; minutes of past meetings; notices of future meetings, trainings, and conferences; and local and national information.
For training requests and resources please email preventsuicidehi@gmail.com.
‘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
Co-Chairs
Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda, DrPH
Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda, DrPH
Dr. Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda is the Co-Chair of the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Taskforce, the State’s network of agencies and community members leading suicide prevention, intervention, and post-vention work.
She also serves as the Graduate Chair for UHM's Department of Public Health Sciences and Specialization Head of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences track. Her research interests focus on mental and behavioral health, including suicide prevention, bullying and violence prevention, and health policy/advocacy and systems-building.
Dr. Sugimoto-Matsuda has extensive experience in systems and policy development. She is also Principal Investigator of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health’s suicide prevention gatekeeper training initiative. She and her team coordinate suicide prevention trainings across the State, as well as support and consultation for the State’s trainer network.
Danielle Bergan
Danielle Bergan
Danielle Bergan is the Co-Chair of the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Taskforce, the State’s network of agencies and community members leading suicide prevention, intervention, and post-vention work.
Danielle has been a member of the Taskforce since 2017 and is the former Co-Chair of the E Ola Hou Prevent Suicide Maui County Taskforce. Danielle is a certified mental health training specialist/instructor in multiple taskforce sanctioned trainings including: SP 101, YSBP, YMHFA, MHFA, ASIST and safeTALK. She has raised awareness for suicide prevention, intervention and post- vention for thousands of youth and adults in Maui County and across the state.
While Danielle is semi-retired, she stays active not just as co-chair of the PSHTF but as a member of the State Council on Mental Health, assits NAMI Hawai'i with support groups and as a Mental Health Educator and Community Affairs Consultant for Youthline Hawai'i.
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