#mental health

The Hawaiʻi State Legislature gave final approval Wednesday to Senate Bill 3001, CD1, the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act, landmark legislation establishing some of the nation’s first consumer protections and transparency requirements for conversational artificial intelligence services, particularly for minors and individuals seeking mental health or crisis support.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health is urging residents impacted by recent flooding across the state to take precautions during cleanup and recovery efforts to protect their health and safety.

The 2023 Maui wildfires were linked to significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety among residents, with impacts extending beyond the burn zones and closely tied to housing and income disruption. That’s according to a new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study published March 11 in “JAMA Psychiatry.”

ʻAi Pono Treatment Center will host an educational evening for parents and educators titled “Building Body Confidence & Healthy Relationships with Food” on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at Sebaury Hall’s ‘A‘ali‘ikūhonua Creative Arts Center. The event is free and open to all parents and educators.

Maui Youth & Family Services hosted a Youth Mental Health First Aid training on Friday, Feb. 13 at the Maui Family YMCA West Side Resource Center.

The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative has awarded YouthLine Hawaiʻi $100,000 for youth mental health services. The award includes $50,000 from the Maui United Way and $50,000 from Kaiser Permanente and is part of the ongoing efforts to increase access to mental health resources for individuals and families directly affected by the 2023 Maui Wildfires. This […]

Members of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature’s Keiki Caucus and community advocates on Wednesday, unveiled the 2026 Keiki Caucus Bill Package, comprised of five priority bills that address the health and welfare of Hawaiʻi’s youth.

Imua Family Services is now accepting film submissions for the inaugural Be Reel Child & Youth Film Festival, Maui’s first-ever festival about kids, for kids and by kids. Youth across Maui and across the globe are invited to transform their ideas, passions, and lived experiences into powerful short films that will premiere on the big screen in 2026.

Aloha House staff, board members and supporters gathered Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new dormitory on the Makawao campus. The new structure adds 12 beds to the facility’s existing 48 beds, increasing the program’s capacity by 25%. The agency provides residential substance use treatment programs, including medically […]

Gov. Josh Green will submit the Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) to the Legislature today, outlining a responsible and forward-looking plan that invests in affordable housing, climate, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and core services for residents, while also preparing for anticipated federal changes.

The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative announces a new funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations that seek to increase access to mental health resources for individuals directly affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Youthline and Imua Family Services, alongside its partner agency Pāʻia Youth & Cutural Center, have joined forces in a partnership aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of youth in Maui County. Organization leaders say this collaboration is a vital step towards supporting and engaging young individuals through innovative initiatives and access to crucial mental health resources.

Maui Family YMCA has applied for a Certificate of Occupancy for the new West Maui YMCA Resource Center.  Renovations to the 6,500-square-foot facility located at  226 Kupuohi Street in Lahaina have been completed and have successfully passed all required inspections.  The Center is anticipated to open in mid-September.   

The Maui County Department of Human Concerns has released results of the 2025 Community Needs Assessment, a comprehensive survey to guide the department’s ongoing efforts to support residents’ well-being. “Conducted by Anthology Research, the study results offer valuable insights into residents’ perspectives on community needs and access to social services, including kūpuna services, early childhood […]

Thanks to the generosity of more than 240,000 donors from 78 countries, the Maui Strong Fund has raised over $209 million (including interest earned).

Maui Youth & Family Services (MYFS) is partnering with YouthLine, a program of Lines for Life, to bring a youth peer-to-peer support and crisis hotline to Hawai‘i.

The study found that while many survivors still report lingering symptoms, those with stronger social support networks experienced better mental health and resilience, even in the face of hardship.

Seabury Hall 2021 graduate Ella Connor, who became a beach volleyball All-American at Cal Poly, struggled with panic attacks and attempted to take her life twice but is now doing “amazing” with help from her four-legged companion.

Staff from Maui Behavioral Health Resources participated in a Summer ʻOhana Fun event on Friday, June 13 to bring fun, healing and mental health awareness to the communities of Ka Laʻi Ola and Kilohana in Lahaina.

The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns is soliciting grant proposals for mental health programs to support community-based initiatives in areas impacted by the August 2023 Maui wildfires in Lahaina and Kula.