Jeanelle J. Sugimoto-Matsuda

Hope, help, and healing: Culturally embedded approaches to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention services with native Hawaiian youth.

Suicide rates have reached their highest documented levels in the United States with the greatest increases among indigenous youth, including Native Hawaiians. Culturally informed, effective prevention and treatment services are needed now more than ever for Native communities to heal and flourish. Multicomponent prevention and service strategies rooted in indigenous values and approaches show the most promise. Native Hawaiian communities are united around a common goal of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, linking cultural meanings to improve understanding and guide local efforts. This paper highlights important cultural values to consider when developing and implementing suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. Strategies build upon the strengths of Native Hawaiian youth and their respective communities. Native Hawaiian sayings anchor each level and serve to organize a set of culturally informed and culturally embedded programs and approaches along the continuum of prevention, intervention and postvention. Application of indigenization to suicide prevention enhances connections to people and place, inspiring hope among Native Hawaiian youth, their families and their communities.

Longitudinal Prediction of Suicide Attempts for a Diverse Adolescent Sample of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Peoples, and Asian Americans

The objective of this study was to determine the longitudinal predictors of past-6-month suicide attempts for a diverse adolescent sample of Native Hawaiians, Pacific peoples, and Asian Americans. The study used longitudinal data from the Hawaiian High Schools Health Survey (N = 2,083, 9th to 11th graders, 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 school years). A stepwise multiple logistic regression was conducted. The final model consisted of three statistically significant predictors: (1) Time 1 suicide attempt, odds ratio = 30.6; (2) state anxiety, odds ratio = 4.9; and (3) parent expectations, odds ratio = 1.9. Past suicide attempt was by far the strongest predictor of future suicide attempts. Implications are discussed, including the need for screening of prior suicide attempts and focused interventions after suicide attempts.

Preventive Models for Reducing Major Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Childhood

Healthcare and public health are complementary disciplines, yet best practice tools are not always shared and applied between disciplines. The public health approach encourages providers to not only limit their attention to the patient and family but also consider individual and family interpersonal relationships, the organizations and communities to which they belong, and larger societal influences that impact health as well as to participate in advocacy. This chapter provides an overview of key public health principles, approaches, and tools useful and relevant to pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatrists and uses vignettes to demonstrate practical application in enriching wellness of patients, families, organizations, and communities.

A model for evaluating academic research centers: Case study of the Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Violence Prevention Center

OBJECTIVES To provide one model for evaluating academic research centers, given their vital role in addressing public health issues. METHODS A theoretical framework is described for a comprehensive evaluation plan for research centers. This framework is applied to one specific center by describing the centers Logic Model and Evaluation Plan, including a sample of the centers activities. RESULTS Formative and summative evaluation information is summarized. In addition, a summary of outcomes is provided: improved practice and policy; reduction of risk factors and increase in protective factors; reduction of interpersonal youth violence in the community; and national prototype for prevention of interpersonal youth violence. CONCLUSIONS Research centers are important mechanisms to advance science and improve peoples quality of life. Because of their more infrastructure-intensive and comprehensive approach, they also require substantial resources for success, and thus, also require careful accountability. It is therefore important to comprehensively evaluate these centers. As provided herein, a more systematic and structured approach utilizing logic models, an evaluation plan, and successful processes can provide research centers with a functionally useful method in their evaluation.