Mental Health

Alaska health news that specifically deals with mental health. (This category is broken out because it is a grant requirement. These stories should also be categorized as “health.)

a care facility

Recently unionized home care workers in Alaska approve first contracts

Home care workers, whose services are needed more as Alaska's population ages, have negotiated for better pay and other benefits.
alcohol pads, tourniquets and cookers

Alaska crests fourth wave of opioid epidemic as more people combine methamphetamine with opioids

The rate of methamphetamine found in tests with fentanyl has increased seven fold in the Pacific region since 2015, which worries experts in the field.
Donald Trump

Trump’s promise to fix the fentanyl crisis appealed to voters and alarmed experts

Donald Trump has promised a crackdown that could include military strikes in Mexico. Many experts worry his plan will do harm than good.

Co-occurring mental disorders | Line One

We discuss the challenges of diagnosing and treating individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions.
the outside of a multi-story building at night.

Anchorage water utility asks thousands of residents to check pipes for possible lead

About 20,000 customers are being asked to check water intake pipes, in a survey required under federal regulations.
a road

‘Enough is enough’: King Cove officials hail Biden Administration backing for Izembek road

While residents call the road a matter of life and death, environmental advocates say it could threaten vital wildlife habitat.
A man in a dark green jacket sits on a cot alone inside a building that has been converted into a shelter.

Health care for people experiencing homelessness | Line One

Host Dr. Justin Clark and his guests discuss the details of providing medical care to people experiencing homelessness on this Line One.
A trail covered in snow. The foreground is darkened while lights illuminate the trail further ahead.

Dealing with the dark | Talk of Alaska Rewind

On this Talk of Alaska, we revisit our 2023 discussion on darkness, and finding ways to enjoy the short days of winter.
a clinic

Anchor Point man arrested after shots fired at Homer health nonprofits

Police say Josiah Kelly, 30, confessed to shooting at a clinic for people recovering from addiction and substance use disorder.
A lawn with an elevated pedestrian walkway over it.

UAA launches Alaska’s first in-state training program for school psychologists

University officials say they hope the master’s degree program will boost the number of school psychologists who understand the needs of Alaska schools.

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an iphone

Regulating phone use in schools | Talk of Alaska

Should cellphones be banned in school? If so, what should those bans look like? We discuss it on this Talk of Alaska.
Classroom

Rethinking education for a healthier society | Line One

On this Line One, host Prentiss Pemberton and his guests explore ideas to rethink how we deliver education for a healthier future.
An at home drug test.

Alaskans are increasingly abusing multiple drugs, complicating treatment

Combining drugs increases risk of overdose and makes withdrawal and getting medication assisted therapy more complex.
health activities

5 tips to help you reset after the time change

Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m. local time Sunday. Here's how to adjust your daytime habits to get a good night of rest.
a hospital

Alaskans charged $5.78B for hospital stays last year, state report says

Being a newborn baby was the top reason for hospitalizations, while childbirth complications ranked third on the list, the report says.
Goose Creek Prison. Photo by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA - Anchorage.

ACLU raises concerns as Alaska department of corrections works to keep fentanyl out of jails and prisons

Fentanyl is so concentrated that it poses new trafficking challenges. But new screening tactics raise red flags with the ACLU of Alaska.
Talk_of_Alaska

Alaska Children’s Trust Lived Experience Storytelling Project | Talk of Alaska

We discuss how sharing stories of child abuse and neglect can help to bring healing, and prevent further pain on this Talk of Alaska.
an apology

Alaska Native advocates call Biden apology for boarding schools ‘just the beginning’

Native leaders say it's a good first step, but want the apology to be followed by more meaningful action.
A woman stands in a tall meadow.

Yup’ik elder talks about her childhood with her grandson, and gives advice

Akiak elder Helen Ivan shares stories about learning English and tells young people to follow their dreams and avoid drugs.