Our Story
Tautua’s Mission was born from a deep commitment to addressing the growing need for suicide prevention and community healing in Hawaii and beyond. Inspired by the values of compassion, connection, and cultural understanding, our journey began with the vision of creating a space where individuals could find meaningful support tailored to their unique experiences.
Our Journey of Hope and Healing
Why We Started
Our story began with Tautua Leo Edwin Reed, who died by suicide at 30 years old just four months after being diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. After they looked through his phone, police let us know that he was continuously looking for help online.
Both Tautua and our family did not have the knowledge or support needed to go through this experience. We did not know how and where to get support.
After his funeral, many people going through the same experience asked us for help because we had gone through it. This compelled us to continue to look for resources so families didn’t have to go through the same loss that we had gone through.
Tautua’s Mission was launched – 2 years after his passing – now that we are equipped with knowledge of local resources and support, are prepared to provide suicide awareness/prevention trainings, and funding for scholarships for those looking to become mental health professionals.
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Communities At High Risk Of Suicide
Leading cause of death for 15 - 24 years old
In 2019, death by suicide was the leading cause of death for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders between the ages of 15 and 24 years old.
Source: National Vitals Statistics Report, CDC 2022
21.4% of surveyed Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander youth considered suicide
21.4% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth reported they seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months.
Source: CDC (2023) High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Youth more likely to attempt suicide
9.7% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander highschoolers reported a suicide attempt within the last 12 months in comparison to the 9% of non-NHPI youth.
Source: CDC (2023) High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Lack of Access to Mental Health Care
- 6.1% of NHPI received mental health services in the past year in comparison to 19.8% of non-NHPI
- 5.2% of NHPI received medication for mental illness in comparison to 16.6% of non-NHPI patients
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration 2022 survey