Eating disorders are on the rise in Alaska, but local resources are scarce
The number of Americans with eating disorders has skyrocketed during the pandemic. Alaska does not have enough resources to help them.
Thousands of Alaskans are considering suicide. You can learn to help them choose life.
Thousands of Alaskans seriously consider suicide every year. Learning to talk directly about it can help people intervene and stop someone from trying.
How learning an Indigenous language leads to healing
During the pandemic, some Indigenous language learning groups saw a boost in enrollment.
‘So much hope’: Alaskans say peer support can make recovery possible
Peer mentors can now receive certification in Alaska to provide support for people in recovery from substance use and mental health issues.
A new crisis team in Fairbanks is responding to mental health calls and freeing up other emergency resources
The city’s Mobile Crisis Team started two months ago and is bringing mental health services directly to people in crisis.
Talk of Alaska: Crisis Now and mental health resources
When you're in the middle of a mental health crisis you need help immediately but options are often limited and inappropriate. Organizations around Alaska are working to change that and connect people with the support they need.
Qawalangin Tribe uses traditional craft as a route to wellness
Beginner weaving, beading and embroidery are just a few of the themed craft nights that have been hosted so far.
At this mental health drop-in center in Fairbanks, members say ‘you can just be you’
The Northern Hope Center is a free, member-driven drop-in center for adults with serious mental illnesses that gives people a social safety net free from judgment.
People harm themselves to cope with big emotions. You can help them heal.
Self-harm is a coping mechanism and a call for help. It can also be extremely hard to talk about.
Yukon aims to sell renewable power to Skagway cruise ships
It could be a win-win. The Yukon territory could turn a profit on their surplus, cruise ships could green up their local image, and Skagway might enjoy better air quality near the port.
How to help people understand the complexity of mental health
An Anchorage teenager made major shifts in his approach to life and is about to graduate high school. He never saw a therapist, never thought about mental health. But mental health is tied to all of it.
IñuPiphany aims to teach Alaska Native women craft skills in Anchorage — and help beat addiction
Helen Lane says the space’s twin purpose fills a void in Anchorage, where many Native women don’t have access to elders’ knowledge about crafts and where many struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism.
Recovering out loud: How one Alaskan created a podcast to support his sobriety and help others too
Through podcasting, music and story sharing, Ralph Sara is working to make people see that recovery from addiction is possible.
An alternative high school in Anchorage is focusing on mental health to help students graduate
Karen Hobart said her main goal as a school counselor is to help kids graduate, and that means looking at a lot more than just their grades or the number of credits they’ve earned. She also connects them to resources like food, safe transportation, or different types of mental health care.
US Army Alaska commander says soldier suicide prevention is top priority
That's after the numbers jumped from eight suicides in 2019 and seven in 2020 to 17 in 2021 that are either confirmed or suspected suicides.
Asking the right questions can stop eating disorders from progressing, experts say
“One of the most important things is to identify an eating disorder early before you get the complications,” said Dr. Rachel Lescher.
New community fridge aims to ease hunger in Anchorage
For Alaskans looking to get something to eat, it’s as easy as walking up and taking it.
For 13 years she’s cared for her husband who has memory loss. Now she’s looking for help.
The number of Alaskans with memory loss is set to nearly double by 2030. Resources to help are limited, but navigators help caregivers find them.
State to put opioid emergency kits in seafood plants and harbors across Southeast Alaska
“We absolutely do feel safer,” one plant manager said about having overdose prevention resources on hand.
In Anchorage, modern tools breathe new life into cultural education
The camp allows Alaska Native students to reproduce their ancestors’ ancient designs. In the process, they learn the sorts of things rarely covered in high school history: Native heritage, technology, and a sense of place.