ABSTRACT
In Hawai‘i, someone dies from suicide every three days (Galanis, 2006). Suicide is the final, irreversible act that is sudden and devastating to those left behind. Scientists, clinicians, and lay people see suicide as a symptom, an end result, or a choice that emerges out of malfunctioning social systems, overwhelming psychosocial adversity, or unrelieved mental and behavioral health problems. Determining the epidemiology, along with the biological, psychological, social, developmental and cultural factors that underpin suicide is needed in order to reduce and hopefully eliminate suicide morbidity and mortality.
