Dunleavy proclaims Sept. 13-19 Suicide Prevention Week in Alaska

Alaskans worried that someone close to them may be suicidal are told to ask the question outright, under a proclamation Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Sunday designating Sept. 13-19, 2026, as Suicide Prevention Week in Alaska. Dunleavy issued similar proclamations in 2024 and 2025 using the same ASK framework and naming Careline Alaska.

The proclamation says suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in Alaska, at a rate twice the national average, and that people of all ages are at risk. It calls recognizing warning signs vital. Stigma around mental illness and suicide discourages those in peril from seeking help, the proclamation says, and it calls for treating every individual with respect and compassion.

The document sets out three steps: ask if the person is thinking about ending their life, share that you care, and keep them company until you connect them with Careline Alaska, other suicide prevention resources or someone they trust. Careline says asking directly will not encourage suicidal thoughts, calling that belief a myth.

Listed risk factors include previous suicide attempts, substance abuse, hopelessness or isolation, access to lethal means, a history of mental health disorders, chronic pain and lack of access to mental health treatment services. The proclamation names the Alaska Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, which provides outreach and education, and the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health's Community-Based Suicide Prevention Program, which trains Alaskans in basic prevention techniques.

The Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution Sept. 1 recognizing September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The resolution cited 213 suicide deaths in Alaska in 2023 and named the region covering Anchorage, the Mat-Su and the Kenai Peninsula as recording the most deaths. A state epidemiology bulletin reported Alaska Native youth aged 10 to 18 died by suicide at a rate of 47 per 100,000, compared with 9 per 100,000 for White youth.

The Alaska Department of Health says Careline counselors also answer calls, texts and chats routed from 988, available around the clock.