Parents can’t give minors self-defense pepper spray

Question: Is it legal for teenagers to carry Mace (pepper spray) on Oahu?

Answer: No, not if they are under 18. Pepper spray is available for sale by licensed retailers, but only to customers 18 and older, per Sec. 41-37.3 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu. Parents can’t buy the self-defense tool and give it to their teenagers under that age. Under the law it is illegal for minors to “purchase, possess or use” pepper spray and for anyone to furnish them with it.

Q: My heart broke for the lady who lost her dog, and so soon after losing her husband. Please let her know that there are support groups for this.

A: Several readers responded with sympathy for the reader whose Mahalo in Friday’s column thanked people who rushed to help when her beloved dog collapsed and died April 4 at a shopping center.

We have passed along the condolences, as well as information about the Hawa­iian Humane Society’s monthly Pet Loss Support Group, which is free to attend. The sessions help adults and children process what for many pet owners is the loss of a full-fledged member of the family.

The group meets the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Humane Society’s administration building, 2700 Waialae Ave. For more information, call 356-2222 or see bit.ly/2HxronP.

Others urged us to provide information about grief counseling, suicide prevention and treatment for depression, since the reader had expressed how her dog had given her a reason to live after her husband died. Rest assured the reader says she is coping well overall, with support from many good friends, which she mentioned in our follow-up correspondence. However, we’re happy to publicize potential resources for anyone else who might need them:

>> Bereavement counseling and support groups may be covered by insurance, depending on your policy, or available for free through community resources, such as churches and nonprofit groups. For example, Hospice Hawaii offers grief support groups that regularly meet in Honolulu, Aiea and Kailua; they are open to the public and not limited to survivors of hospice patients, according to its website, hospicehawaii.org. The Hawaii Psychological Association provides contact information for bereavement resources on all islands. For details, go to hawaiipsychology.org and click on “community resources” and then “bereavement.”

>> The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255). It is staffed around the clock, providing free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as crisis resources for anyone trying to help those people.

>> The website for Hawaii’s Suicide Prevention Resource Center, at sprc.org/states/hawaii, has links to helpful programs and groups.

>> Depression is more than feeling down for a day or two. It’s a persistent but treatable condition that can improve with lifestyle changes and mental health treatment. A healthful diet, daily exercise, medication and talk therapy all may be components of a successful regimen, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Anyone who is depressed and has a primary care doctor should start there, for treatment and/or referrals. The Hawaii Psychological Association also may be a source of useful information. In addition, adults who are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible for services through the state Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division. Call for 643-2643 during regular business hours or, in a crisis situation, 832-3100, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To Kokua Line readers, we say: Thanks for always looking out for one another.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.