In this Newsletter:

September is Suicide Prevention Month
QPR, Trauma 101 and more training options
Supporting young children with PRIDE skills
Updates from Alaska Seeds of Change: Weekly Drop In Hours to learn more!
Event recaps: Out of the Darkness Walk, Block ParTAY, Alaska State Fair

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. By promoting education, awareness, and resources, we can help prevent suicide and support those who are struggling.

This month, take the time to learn about the warning signs of suicide, how to support someone who may be struggling, and resources available for those in need. Check out these great resources:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Follow along as we share information and resources throughout the month on our social media pages. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.

QPR Suicide Prevention & other trainings

now available

As a part of our commitment to creating a safe and supportive community, we offer QPR Suicide Prevention Training.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. It is a practical and evidence-based approach to helping individuals in crisis. The training equips participants with the skills and knowledge to recognize warning signs of suicide, ask the right questions, and connect the person to professional help when needed. The training is open to everyone, and no prior experience in mental health is required. By joining the QPR Suicide Prevention Training, you will learn practical steps to help save lives, reduce stigma, and promote mental wellness. Our next QPR training is scheduled for October 16! Register here.

Check our community calendar for upcoming public training events, or request a specific training for your workplace or group from our training page. There are still a few spots left in this week's Trauma 101 training (Thursday, September 14 in Anchorage!)

Let's work together to create a safer and more supportive community.

Supporting young children with P.R.I.D.E. skills!

Our early childhood clinicians have done a tremendous job implementing Parent-Child Interaction Therapy over the last year!

57 clients and their families have received PCIT services, either in person or via telehealth. 3 clinicians are working toward full certification in this evidence-based model.

One of the pillars of PCIT is using P.R.I.D.E. skills when interacting with children. Check out this brief tutorial with certified PCIT clinician Lindsay Coffey!

Updates from Alaska Seeds of Change!

Drop in Vocational Hours

Alaska Seeds of Change is now hosting weekly drop-in hours for anyone who wants to learn more about the program! The doors are open every Thursday from 1-5 pm at 704 W. 26th Avenue in Anchorage for tours of the indoor hydroponic farm and outdoor gardens, with the opportunity for hands on engagement. Staff will help any youth ages 13-23 who are interested in ongoing work with Seeds complete paperwork and take the next steps.

Learn more about Alaska Seeds of Change!

Seeds is also hiring for a couple of permanent positions:

Shift Lead, Alaska Seeds of Change

Agriculture Specialist

THANK YOU!

A huge thank you to everyone who came to and supported our Block ParTAY on August 18th!

This was the second annual event hosted by Alaska Seeds of Change and the POWER Center, to help connect youth with community engagement opportunities. Special thanks to all of the community partners who joined us and to our sponsors: Alaska Airlines Foundation, the Barclay Giel Foundation, GCI Gives, Global Federal Credit Union, and Providence Alaska!

Thanks to everyone who came out to see us the Alaska State Fair!

We teamed up with other substance use and mental health treatment providers to host a Wellness Tent at the fair.

The tent offered a quiet place to take a break, connect with others, play a game or two, and learn about treatment options and other supports available in the community.

Naloxone kits and training were also available.

This effort was coordinated by Banyan Treatment Centers. Huge thanks to Sam Garcia for pulling the group together and setting up the booth, more than once! (High winds forced a brief pause mid-way through the fair!)

Upcoming Events

We'll see you at the conference!

It's fall conference season in Alaska! Our staff will be presenting and doing outreach at many upcoming conferences in the next few months - we hope to see you at one of them!

September 20: Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association annual meetings and conference in Girdwood
September 20 - 23: National Association of Social Workers- Alaska chapter conference in Anchorage
October 27-28: All Alaska Pediatric Partnership Symposium in Anchorage

Alaska Public Media

Mental Health Resource Fair

October 14

Join us at Alaska Public Media's second annual Mental Health Resource Fair at the Fairview Rec Center (1121 E. 10th Ave. in Anchorage) on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. The fair is free and family-friendly with complimentary food and kids activities. More than 30 local organizations will offer information and resources related to wellness and mental health.

Stop by to learn about everything from what to do in a crisis, how to apply for benefits, and where to find a therapist.

Join Our Team