- From 2018–2022, suicide was the leading cause of death for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders ages 10–14 and the second leading cause of death for those ages 15–34.1
- In 2023, although non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students in grades 9–12 reported seriously considering attempting suicide 21% less than their peers,2 they actually attempted suicide 61% more frequently as a group compared to their peers.3
- In 2024, adult Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders reported receiving prescription medications for mental health treatment 87% less as a group than the total population.4
For more information and resources on mental health, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.
Looking for curated searches on mental health within minority and tribal populations, including Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations, in the United States and its territories? Check out the OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides.
Mental health status
| Serious psychological distress in the past year among persons ages 18 years and over, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| 9.2 | 13.9 | 0.66 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who regularly had feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| 12.3 | 12.2 | 1.01 |
| Major depressive episode in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| 2.1 | 8.2 | 0.26 |
| Any mental illness in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| 12.2 | 23.4 | 0.52 |
Death rates
| Age-adjusted death rates for suicide by sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio | |
| Male | 22.1 | 23.0 | 0.96 |
| Female | 6.1 | 5.9 | 1.03 |
| Total | 14.3 | 14.2 | 1.01 |
| Suicide rates by age, race, and Hispanic origin, 2019: Males | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Males | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio | |
| 15–24 years | Not Reported | 22.0 | Not Reported |
| 25–44 years | 42.5 | 28.0 | 1.52 |
| 45–64 years | Not Reported | 29.9 | Not Reported |
| 65 years and over | Not Reported | 31.7 | Not Reported |
| All ages, age adjusted | 22.1 | 22.4 | 0.99 |
| Suicide rates by age, race, and Hispanic origin, 2019: Females | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Females | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio | |
| 15–24 years | Not Reported | 5.5 | Not Reported |
| 25–44 years | Not Reported | 7.4 | Not Reported |
| 45–64 years | Not Reported | 9.6 | Not Reported |
| 65 years and over | Not Reported | 5.2 | Not Reported |
| All ages, age adjusted | Not Reported | 6.0 | Not Reported |
Adolescents
| Students in grades 9–12 who seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months, percentage, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio | |
| Male | 8.4 | 14.1 | 0.60 |
| Female | 21.4 | 27.1 | 0.79 |
| Total | 16.1 | 20.4 | 0.79 |
| Students in grades 9–12 who attempted suicide in the past 12 months, percentage, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio | |
| Male | 7.1 | 6.4 | 1.11 |
| Female | 19.5 | 12.6 | 1.55 |
| Total | 15.3 | 9.5 | 1.61 |
Access to healthcare
| Adults ages 18 and over who received mental health services in the past year, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| 9.2 | 22.9 | 0.40 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who received prescription medication as a type of mental health service in the past year, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| 2.2 | 16.7 | 0.13 |
| Adults ages 18 and over with a major depressive episode in the past year who received treatment for depression, percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| Not Reported | 64.4 | Not Reported |
1 CDC. WISQARS. Leading Causes of Death. (Back to top)
2 CDC, 2024. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide, 2023. (Back to top)
3 CDC, 2024. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Actually Attempted Suicide, 2023. (Back to top)
4 SAMHSA, 2025. Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Detailed Tables. Table 6.25B. (Back to top)
Date Last Reviewed: September 2025