U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy visited Alaska at the invitation of Senator Dan Sullivan to assess the rising rates of isolation and depression among young Alaskans. The visit addressed what mental health advocates describe as a crisis resulting in increased suicides, eating disorders, and depression. Nationally, one in three adolescent girls in 2021 seriously considered suicide. Mental health providers in Alaska expressed urgent concern about the escalating demands on existing services.
Healthcare System Strain
Renee Rafferty, regional director of behavioral health services at Providence Health and Services in Alaska, reported that in the last 18 months the hospital has seen youths as young as 10 coming for help after suicide attempts. “We are terrified of the statistics that are coming our way,” she said. The pediatric medical units are overwhelmed with patients waiting days for appropriate care. Rafferty noted that even as one of the largest providers in the state, attempting to direct someone to mental health care involves “hours trying to find you care.” Heidi Huppert, chief program officer with Covenant House Alaska, reported that since January, the organization’s numbers of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation have rivaled those of other Covenant Houses across North America, including New York City, Houston, and Toronto. She noted she has “never seen such a crisis in two decades of working at the organization.”
Access and Prevention Gaps
Participants described broad shortages of mental health services, emphasizing the need for funding for prevention and earlier intervention. Lisa Parady, executive director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators, noted that urban school systems have behavioral health programs, but “there are none in the state’s most rural and remote areas. Many schools have no counselors at all.” Beth Rose, co-founder of the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, reported a steep rise in eating disorders among those under 17—conditions with the highest mortality rates of any mental health disorder. There is no in-state eating disorder treatment center, forcing children to be sent out of state for care. Rose cited social media’s contribution, noting that children as young as 9 or 10 encounter sites promoting eating disorders or discussing suicides within minutes of creating accounts.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2023/06/27/us-surgeon-general-hears-from-terrified-providers-about-alaska-youth-mental-health-crisis/