Show 30: Suicide Prevention in Alaska

Teenagers in Alaska are more at risk of dying by suicide than kids in any other state. Understanding this statistic and the efforts to fight the problem is the subject on today's show.

IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy are three guests: Barbara Franks, she works with the Suicide Prevention Programs for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Division of Behavioral Health & Rural Services, she also serves as Vice President of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; James Gallanos is the lead suicide prevention coordinator for the Department of Health and Social Services - Prevention and Early Intervention Services, he also manages the Alaska Youth Suicide Prevention Project; and Kimberlee Jones who is the director of Careline Crisis Intervention, Alaska’s statewide suicide prevention and crisis hotline where you can also text and chat online confidentially.

Visit StopSuicideAlaska.org to learn more about statewide prevention efforts.

THREE GOOD PHONE NUMBERS TO KNOW!

• The Careline 1-800-273-8255 is the state's suicide hotline.
• April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call 1-800-478-4444 in Alaska.
• Call 1-800-643-KIDS - it's the Alaska Parent Line and you can ask for advice or learn about resources that are available to help you and your family.

FEATURED STORIES: Three Alaska teens spoke up to tell adults what kids know about preventing suicide with their winning entries in the statewide Suicide Prevention PSA contest sponsored by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Alaska Association of Student Governments.

• Watch Jaden from Barrow's PSA: What if we could go back to that moment where a friend could change everything?
• Watch Sophie from Klawock's PSA: Fred the rhododendron
• Watch Michael from Bethel's PSA: Look for the signs

The Family Wellness Warriors Initiative has an ambitious goal: end domestic violence, child sexual abuse and child neglect in Alaska in THIS generation. It’s a program of Southcentral Foundation, the native non-profit health care organization for the Cook Inlet region. As contributor Jessica Cochran tells us, it’s all based on sharing stories.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Since the Alaska Children's Trust began in 1988 it has distributed more than $3.5 million toward preventing child abuse and neglect in Alaska. Producer, Sarah Gonzales, spoke with Panu Lucier, the executive director of the Alaska's Children's Trust, to learn about how they are working towards the vision of being the safest state for children by the year 2030.