Bill Text: HI HR85 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Urging The Governor To Appoint As Members To The State Council On Mental Health At Least Two Individuals With Demonstrated Knowledge Of Or Work Experience Involving Native Hawaiian Concepts Of Well-being, Culturally-grounded Mental Health Methodologies, Or Traditional Healing Or Health Practices.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-14 - Referred to HLT/WLH, FIN, referral sheet 33 [HR85 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-HR85-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

85

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AS MEMBERS TO THE STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH AT LEAST TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE OF OR WORK EXPERIENCE INVOLVING NATIVE HAWAIIAN CONCEPTS OF WELL-BEING, CULTURALLY-GROUNDED MENTAL HEALTH METHODOLOGIES, OR TRADITIONAL HEALING OR HEALTH PRACTICES.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Native Hawaiians experience distinct health disparities that pervade their day-to-day well-being and hinder their overall health; and

 

     WHEREAS, mental health disparities between Native Hawaiians and other ethnicities begin in adolescence; and

 

     WHEREAS, mental health data demonstrate that youth suicide attempts and death rates are highest among Native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, Native Hawaiian youth are two times more likely than their Caucasian peers to attempt suicide; and

 

     WHEREAS, suicide and attempted suicide among Native Hawaiians have profound impacts on families and communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, Native Hawaiian keiki are overrepresented among victims of abuse and neglect; and

 

     WHEREAS, by high school, female Native Hawaiian students experience feelings of sadness or hopelessness to a greater degree than their peers; and

 

     WHEREAS, Native Hawaiian youth maintain some of the highest rates of drug use in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, these mental health disparities continue for Native Hawaiians through adulthood and into their senior years; and

 

     WHEREAS, a significant number of Native Hawaiians underuse existing mental health services, seek therapy only after their illnesses becomes severe, or leave mental health treatment prematurely; and

 

     WHEREAS, cultural incongruence with Western mental health approaches may affect Native Hawaiians' willingness to use mental health services; and

 

     WHEREAS, experts find that patients are more likely to seek out and use mental health services when their values and beliefs are congruent with the interventions provided; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 155, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, codified a commitment to address health disparities in section 226‑20(a)(7), Hawaii Revised Statutes, which includes the prioritization of "programs, services, interventions and activities that address identified social determinants of health to improve Native Hawaiian health and well-being" among the objectives to be included in planning for the State's socio-cultural advancement with regard to health; and

 

     WHEREAS, eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity across demographics is a state and national priority; and

 

     WHEREAS, because the State Council on Mental Health is responsible for advising, reviewing and evaluating the allocation and adequacy of mental health resources and services in the State, it is imperative that the Council include members with knowledge of or work experience involving Native Hawaiian concepts of well-being, culturally-grounded mental health methodologies, or traditional healing or health practices; and

 

     WHEREAS, in light of the commitment embodied in Act 155, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, it is in the best interest of the State to ensure that there is appropriate Native Hawaiian cultural representation on the State Council on Mental Health; and

 

     WHEREAS, pursuant to sections 334-10 and 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the members of the State Council on Mental Health are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that the Governor is urged to appoint as members to the State Council on Mental Health at least two individuals with demonstrated knowledge of or work experience involving Native Hawaiian concepts of well-being, culturally-grounded mental health methodologies, or traditional healing or health practices; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Chairperson of the State Council on Mental Health.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

State Council on Mental Health; Native Hawaiians

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