Life during this pandemic has weighed heavily on our individual and collective mental health. For youth, things like isolation, anxiety, and grief have added to an already increasing list of risk factors. And Alaska has long since had some of the highest adolescent suicide rates in the country.
So for this episode we’re going to talk about suicide prevention. Our guest is Leah Van Kirk, the suicide prevention program coordinator for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
ATMI producer Madison Knutson spoke with Van Kirk about her work, how the pandemic has affected youth mental health and preventative resources, as well as best practices for providing support for people who are struggling with suicidal ideation.
They spoke on May 16th, 2022.
Hosted by Zinn Rogers.
Music by Devin Shreckengost, Kendrick Whiteman, and Tyler Felson.
Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.
Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including United Way of Anchorage for the Healthy Communities Funding Program and the CDC Foundation Arts and Vaccine Confidence Project.
The opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this podcast are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Way of Anchorage or the Municipality of Anchorage, Anchorage Health Department.
RESOURCES FOR YOUTH STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH
Wellness resources!
COVID-19 tips from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention!
These resources provided in collaboration with the State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health.
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