Kodiak father asks borough assembly to make suicide prevention a monthly agenda item

Ryan Sharratt asked the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on Thursday to make mental health and suicide prevention a standing agenda item, with monthly discussion.

"I'm standing before you because 408 days ago my son took his own life," he said.

He said he has sat with nine children this year who contemplated suicide. He cited the state Health Department as reporting that Alaska's youth suicide rate is nearly six times the national average among children ages 10 through 18. He said the youth suicide death rate reached a 10-year high in 2025. A state Department of Health bulletin, Youth Suicides in Alaska, 2016–2025, reports that high and counts 174 youth suicide deaths and 4,101 attempts among Alaskans ages 10 to 18 over the decade.

Sharratt also cited Kodiak's 2025 Community Health Survey. He said one in four respondents reported that they or a family member needed mental health services, and nearly half of those could not get care.

He asked the assembly to bring together providers, schools, businesses and community groups. "Please establish mental health and suicide prevention as a standing agenda item with substantial monthly discussions," he said. He asked for regular reports from CANA, Providence and other providers, and for young people and families to take part.

The assembly took no action on the request. During closing comments, one assembly member said it broke his heart to see Sharratt there and urged residents to look out for young people and lend a hand to anyone who is hurting.

The Kodiak Island Borough School District Board of Education voted unanimously on Oct. 7 in support of a student resolution that would have Alaska middle and high schools run student-led mental health or suicide prevention programs. The resolution, written by a Kodiak student, then went before Alaska's school boards.

Sharratt recently launched whathappentomorrow.org, a free online platform he said connects young people, families and veterans with mental health education and help. He is organizing Enough is Enough Alaska Live, a free three-hour forum in Kodiak planned for February 2027 with a proposed statewide livestream.

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts can call the Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988.