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Senator welcomes YMCA mental health delegation, cites rise in youth depression and program reach
Summary
Senator Wakai introduced guests from the YMCA of Honolulu, Hawaii Island and Maui and Dole Middle School students, noting estimates that about 10,000 youth ages 12–17 in the state suffer from depression and that nearly 69% do not receive care; she said the YMCA serves more than 4,000 children with stress-management and wellness programs.
Senator Wakai introduced guests from the YMCA of Honolulu, Hawaii Island and Maui and asked the Senate to welcome CEO staff and students the senator described as "champions of youth mental health."
"An estimated 10,000 young folks ages 12 to 17 suffer from depression, yet nearly 69 percent do not receive any type of care," Senator Wakai said on the floor, noting the scale of the problem in the state. "The YMCA program serves more than 4,000 of our children by offering the stress management tools, social support, and physical wellness activities," she added, and she specifically welcomed students from Dole Middle School in Senator Kim's district.
The remarks were made as part of introductions on the Senate floor; no formal legislative action on youth mental health programs was recorded during the session. The introductions named Fi Jacobson, described as former secretary of the South Dakota Senate from 1987 to 1998, who attended with her grandson Fauci Fargali, and referred to YMCA staff and students from multiple islands who were visiting the State Capitol.
