Suicide Awareness Month was “mistakenly” set to the wrong date in 2019. ACT 36, originally had an effective date of July 1, 2050, just for placekeeping purposes, but committees of the house and senate who handled it and intended to change the year to 2024 “forgot” to do so.

HB655 HD1 SD1, which was the original bill for Act 36, then was vetoed by former governor David Ige in 2019 because of the goof. 

The bill has now been brought back, and passed, where House Bill 1541, will change the effective date for Suicide Prevention and Awareness month to July 2024. 

Sen. Karl Rhoads, judiciary chair, said he is optimistic that codifying this change will help increase awareness of suicide risk factors, and he also is hopeful that the community can lower the suicide rate. 

“I do feel people take notice of these sorts of months or events to commemorate an issue, so I think it will raise awareness,” Sen. Rhoads said. 

Hawai’i has about 170 suicides per year, according to the state’s Department of Health. Legislators want Suicide Awareness Month to be effective immediately and to educate everyone about ways to prevent suicide.

The bill has passed a third reading this legislative session and has been transferred to Gov. Josh Green for a signature that will make it into law.