The Juneau School District and community organizations are offering additional support and resources following the death of two teenagers reported Monday evening.
Superintendent Shawn Arnold said the district is providing on-site crisis counseling at some schools. He said school staff are also reaching out to students they believe would be affected.
“We had many of our schools, probably more than half of our schools impacted or touched by the events that had occurred,” he said.
Arnold said he can’t provide the specific schools due to privacy reasons. Those schools also have quiet spaces for students that need a safe space to take breaks or process feelings.
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is providing counselors and behavioral specialists to support schools. The tribe is also guiding schools through various talking circles to process their emotions.
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School have teen health centers where anyone ages 13 to 20 can receive free physical and mental health services.
Juneau community resources
Resources are also available outside of schools. JAMHI Health and Wellness is providing free walk-in counseling at its JAMHI Family location on the following dates:
- Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 3, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 4, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
JAMHI Family is located on 2075 Jordan Ave. in the Mendenhall Valley.
JAMHI also provides ongoing 24/7 crisis support by phone at 907-463-3303.
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium offers a free 24/7 helpline to Southeast Alaska residents at 1-877-294-0074.
Tlingit & Haida Community & Behavioral Services Healing Center began a Hope & Healing Support Group last month for tribal citizens looking for connection and community. The group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month.
Events for Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month, with several events previously planned.
Tlingit and Haida’s Community and Behavioral Services Healing Center is hosting a healing dip on Sept. 8 from 6-7 p.m. at the Auke Rec Raven Shelter. It’s a way to practice culture for connection and healing, according to a Facebook post for the event. All are welcome, especially those affected by suicide, people struggling and community members who want to uplift others.
Suicide prevention nonprofit NAMI Juneau is partnering with other organizations to hold a suicide prevention awareness community picnic on Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Savikko Park in Douglas.
NAMI also hosts a monthly support group for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. The group meets on the fourth Saturday of every month at the Teal Street Center.
The organization runs the website juneaumentalhealth.org for people looking for mental health resources NAMI staff are also available to help people navigate resources.
“We spend a lot of time helping people navigate juneaumentalhealth.org because it is a giant list of therapists, among other things, and it’s hard to know how to whittle that down,” Aaron Surma, executive director for NAMI Juneau, said. “So we’re happy to do that.”
NAMI can be reached by phone at 907-463-4251, by email at namijuneau@gmail.com and through its website.
Statewide and national resources
Anybody in crisis or who has a loved one going through a crisis can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
People can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Careline Alaska provides 24/7 support for Alaskans. It can be reached by calling 1-877-266-4357 or texting 494949.
You can also be connected to community resources by calling 2-1-1.
