The 2016 Prevent Suicide Hawaii Benefit will take place from 2-7 p.m. March 20 at Makaeo Event Pavilion and Old Kona Airport Park, also known as Kailua Park.
The 2016 Prevent Suicide Hawaii Benefit will take place from 2-7 p.m. March 20 at Makaeo Event Pavilion and Old Kona Airport Park, also known as Kailua Park.
The benefit, which features food, entertainment and door prizes, seeks to bring together a community of survivors, advocates, educators, community members, health professionals and community/state leaders to delve into the issue of suicide to increase awareness, enhance response skills, and strengthen abilities to help survivors of suicide. It also helps to generate funding to provide suicide prevention training and raising awareness.
Tickets are $13 for adults; $3 for children ages 5 to 17; free for keiki younger than age 5.
Suicide is the leading cause of injury death in the state, and Hawaii Island leads the state in suicide-related deaths per capita. The Hawaii Department of Health Injury Prevention Branch reports an average of 330 suicides annually in Hawaii, which is nearly one per day.
The benefit is organized by members of the Hawaii Island and Hawaii State Prevent Suicide task forces. The task forces consist of individuals, organizations and community groups working to provide leadership for suicide prevention efforts in the islands.