Experts call for expanded services as Hawaii’s suicide helpline struggles to meet demand

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is struggling to meet surging demand after the Lahaina wildfires.
University of Hawaii researchers found that calls to the 988 Lifeline rose by 41% post-wildfire.
The report also found that in-state answer rates dropped from 90% to 77% — resulting in many calls being routed to out-of-state services.
The researchers said local mental health services need to be expanded, adding that staffing support for Maui’s most vulnerable communities need to be increased.
“The wildfire not only destroyed homes and livelihoods but also severely impacted the mental health of an entire community, particularly for those already facing economic and health disparities,” said Joseph Keaweaimoku Kaholokula, professor and chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
“To help residents rebuild their lives and resilience, expanding the mental health workforce with providers who understand Hawaii’s unique needs is critical. We hope these findings will lead to a significant increase in support for mental health care and disaster response tailored to our communities.”
The findings were published in JAMA Open Network and are part of a larger National Institutes of Health-funded study.
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