Major Awareness Activities
Statewide Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Conference
Main contact:
Taskforce Co-Chairs: Gina Kaulukukui (gkaulukukui@kauai.gov) and Deborah Goebert (goebertd@dop.hawaii.edu)
The “Healing After” conference was originally conceived of by Pua Kaninau-Santos, who lost her son to suicide in 2003 and ever since has been one of Hawaii’s champions of suicide prevention. The aim of the conference is to bring together a community of survivors, advocates, educators, policymakers, and health professionals around the issue of suicide. The conferences aim to increase awareness of suicide, skills to respond to those at risk, and abilities help those who have survived the loss of a loved one.
The most recent conference was held in April 2019. Copies of select presentations and handouts can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7mcyjsrfotsxbr9/AAA7TOFGsZnliodrlAbNvxtNa?dl=0.
“Out of the Darkness” Community and Campus Walks
Main contact:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org/hawaii for information and registration (all events)
One of the major activities of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP’s) Hawai‘i Chapter (see “Collaborations and Partnerships”) is the organization of “Out of the Darkness” Community and Campus Walks. The purpose of the Walks is to promote awareness around suicide prevention, as well was to raise funds that will benefit local activities and research. Recent/upcoming walks include:
Links to past Hawai‘i Statewide Out of the Darkness Walks (moved to virtual “Experiences” during the pandemic):
October 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQkZiNl8WO4.
September 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCCgqD9IklA
International Survivors of Suicide Loss (ISOSL) Mini-Conferences
Main contact:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org/hawaii for information and registration (all events)
Another major activity of AFSP is the organization of gatherings/mini-conferences which coincide with International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. The event welcomes survivors of suicide loss, and provides a safe and healing space where everyone can comfortably participate in a way that is meaningful to them. Recent/upcoming events include:
The 2023 ISOSL Schedule is forthcoming. Details will be posted at: https://afsp.org/chapter/hawaii#events.