Maui school officials
get suicide alertCounselors are told to watch
for students who may be suicidal
and try to help them
WAILUKU >> School counselors in Maui County have been told to be on alert for students who may be suicidal.
Nearly 100 counselors met Monday at a special meeting at the Cameron Center to discuss measures to prevent suicides, following rising worries in the community about an increase in suicides and suicide attempts, said Charmaine Bissen, a member of the Maui District School Counselors Planning Committee.
"We felt it was important," said Bissen, also the Maui District school psychologist.
There have been eight suicides in Maui County through April 30 this year, one of them a school-age youth, according to the state Department of Health.
Donna Whitford, the school superintendent for Central Maui, said educators take any death of a student seriously.
"One was one too many," Whitford said.
There were 13 suicides in Maui County last year, including residents and visitors, 15 in 2001 and 21 in 2000, according to the Health Department.
Rev. Stephen Kaneshiro, a Baptist minister, said when he is counseling people who are considering suicide, he tries to get them to take a look at the "whole picture, because a lot of times they are looking at a permanent solution for a temporary problem."
"If people could find hope, it would pass," he said.
Kaneshiro, with Valley Isle Fellowship in Wailuku, said many people who think of suicide are having problems with relationships and do not realize that relationships can be mended in time.
He said anyone who knows a person talking about suicide should keep a close watch on the individual and get them help through clergy, school counselors or psychiatrists.
"Use every avenue you can to get them necessary help," he said.
