Alaska
Alaska suicide prevention plans and initiatives
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services houses the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council (SSPC) which was established in 2001 (AS §§ 44.29.300-44.29.390). In 2019, SB 10 was adopted to renew the Council’s charter and extend the termination date to June 30, 2027. The SSPC advises and reports annually to the Governor and Legislature on issues relating to suicide. In collaboration with communities, faith-based organizations, and public-private entities, the SSPC works to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans by reducing suicide and its effect on individuals and communities. In 2020, the SSPC released Alaska Postvention Guide: Preparing to Heal, a comprehensive guide meant to help individuals, families, and communities after a suicide loss. The SSPC also released an updated suicide prevention plan in 2023 entitled Messages of Hope: Promoting Wellness to Prevent Suicide in Alaska, 2023-2027 Statewide Suicide Prevention Plan.
Alaska laws
Key:
- Required by law
- Encouraged by law
- No law in place
Crisis lines and 988 implementation
- Addresses 988 infrastructure and provides for telecom user fee
- Addresses 988 infrastructure but does not include telecom user fee
- 988 law limited to creating an exploratory commission, advisory committee, or task force
Mental health parity
- Public health plans (e.g., Medicaid) regularly submit parity compliance analyses to state regulators
- Private health plans (individual and group) regularly submit parity compliance analyses to state regulators
K – 12 school suicide prevention
- Inclusion of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and/or other crisis line(s) on student ID cards
- Student allowances for excused mental health absences
- School personnel must report student suicide risk to a parent and/or guardian
- Suicide prevention and/or mental health training for certain school personnel, annual
- Suicide prevention and/or mental health training for certain school personnel, not annual
- Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policies/programming
- Student education on suicide prevention
Health professional training in suicide assessment, treatment and management
- Mental health professionals receive regular training
- Mental health professionals receive one time training
- Medical/surgical professionals receive regular training
- Medical/surgical professionals receive one time training
Conversion therapy bans
- Prohibits licensed/board certified mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with minors under 18 years of age
- Prohibits licensed/board certified mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with vulnerable adults
- Prohibits use of state funds for any purpose related to conversion therapy (e.g., conducting, making a referral for, or extending health benefits coverage for)
University and college campus suicide prevention
- Inclusion of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and/or other crisis line(s) on student ID cards
- Students receive information on available mental health and/or suicide prevention services and/or resources
- Adoption of suicide prevention/awareness policy or program