Bill > SR43

This resolution urges the Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Office of Wellness and Resilience to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students in Hawaii to combat increasing youth loneliness and social disconnection, which have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and are linked to serious mental health issues like anxiety and depression, particularly among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth. The program aims to leverage the fact that students often feel more comfortable seeking help from peers, and it will involve training student peer counselors in skills like active listening and cultural responsiveness, equipping them to foster a sense of belonging, normalize discussions about well-being, and identify students in distress, with clear pathways to professional mental health support. The Office of Wellness and Resilience will help coordinate efforts and ensure the program aligns with trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches, while the Hawaii State Youth Commission will ensure youth voices are central to the program's development and evaluation.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SR&billnumber=43&year=2026