Mental Health in Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

  • In 2023, although non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students in grades 9–12 reported seriously considering attempting suicide 21% less than their peers,1 they actually attempted suicide 61% more frequently as a group compared to their peers.2
  • In 2024, adult Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders reported receiving prescription medications for mental health treatment 87% less as a group than the total population.3

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

Adults

Adults ages 18 and over who regularly had feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety, percentage, 2024
NHPITotal PopulationRatio (NHPI / Total)
12.312.21.01
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults: Percentage of regularly had feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Any mental illness in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
12.223.40.52
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.7B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Serious psychological distress in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
9.213.90.66
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.88B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Major depressive episode in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
2.18.20.26
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.41B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adolescents

Students in grades 9–12 who seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months, percentage, 2023
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
Male8.414.10.60
Female21.427.10.79
Both Sexes16.120.40.79
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who seriously considered attempting suicide. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Students in grades 9–12 who attempted suicide in the past 12 months, percentage, 2023
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
Male7.16.41.11
Female19.512.61.55
Both Sexes15.39.51.61
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who actually attempted suicide. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mortality

Adults

Age-adjusted death rates for suicide by sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 2022
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
Male22.123.00.96
Female6.15.91.03
Both Sexes14.314.21.01
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Deaths: Final data for 2022 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 4, Table 11). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Health Care Use

Adults ages 18 and over who received mental health treatment in the past year, percentage, 2024
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
9.222.90.40
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.21B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over who received mental health treatment through prescription medication, percentage, 2024
NHPI*Total PopulationRatio (NHPI* / Total)
2.216.70.13
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.25B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.

1 CDC, 2024. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide, 2023. (Back to top)

2 CDC, 2024. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Actually Attempted Suicide, 2023. (Back to top)

3 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: January 2026