The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) has released the second phase of a report examining current mental and behavioral health supports within Alaska’s school districts. Mental Health Supports in Alaska’s Schools Phase Two: The State of Student Mental Health & Promising Approaches follows the first phase of the report, which included a landscape assessment and individual school district profiles, that was released in 2021.
Like Phase One of the report, Phase Two was funded by the Trust and conducted in coordination with the Department of Education and Early Development, the Department of Health, the Alaska Mental Health Board/Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and in partnership with school districts across Alaska. The Trust contracted with The Stellar Group to complete the report.
Mental Health Supports in Alaska’s Schools Phase Two: The State of Student Mental Health & Promising Approaches examines promising approaches for providing mental health supports in Alaska’s schools and communities. The report includes information on the role of schools in youth mental health, the state of youth mental health, and activities that can advance progress towards a comprehensive system of care. It also contains several case studies of how rural and urban school districts are working to explore, implement, and sustain mental health supports.
The information in the report is intended to offer findings to districts, state and local policy makers, and community education stakeholders to inform and improve the status of student mental health.
“We appreciate the enthusiastic participation of our partners and districts around the state to help us document the current state of mental health supports in schools,” said Steve Williams, CEO of the Trust. “The information in this report will help inform community and state conversations about what approaches we see working in Alaska, and how we can continue to support efforts to improve student mental health – which is critical to school performance and individual wellness.”
“Alaska’s Education Challenge prioritizes improving the safety and well-being of students through partnerships with families, communities, and tribes,” said Department of Education and Early Development Acting Commissioner Heidi Teshner. “I’m grateful the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is providing this report so that Alaska school leaders can better understand the important role of schools in youth mental health and learn from examples of districts across our state which are already building and sustaining successful mental health programs.”
“It’s reports like these that help Alaskans learn from other Alaskans, while we strive to see how we can improve student mental health around our great state,” adds Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Adam Crum. “The information contained in this year’s report will help us build on the strong foundation started last year when school districts shared with us their extensive efforts and we can take their knowledge and experiences and aim for progress providing mental health support for Alaska’s young people both in schools and in their communities.”
This new report also includes information on relevant policies and student mental health data. You can access the complete Mental Health in Alaska Schools Phase Two: The State of Student Mental Health & Promising Approaches, report as well as the first phase of the report on the Trust resources webpage.
For more information, contact Allison Biastock, Trust Chief Communications Officer, 907-334-2531, or allison.biastock@alaska.gov