Community providers envision a better way to help Alaskans in crisis SPONSORED: Without a robust safety net of support services, a behavioral health crisis can lead to homelessness and other negative health outcomes. Author: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Published March 15
Part 5 of 6 Ellen doesn’t know quite where her son is right now. That’s not entirely true she’s pretty sure he’s still somewhere on the other side of the world. That’s where Justin was the last time she heard from him. “He’s homeless in an epidemic, in a country where the president doesn’t believe in COVID,” Ellen said. (Names have been changed and details withheld to protect the family’s privacy.)
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The Sunday Minefield – March 14, 2021
It’s stupid daylight savings again. I really wish Congress would just end it once and for all for the entire country. God forbid they do something the majority of Americans agree on. Things in the Capitol were loose as ever this week. We are nearly two thirds into the “90-day” legislative session. The end appears to be nowhere in sight.
A friendly message and reminder to all our readers, the Landmine is made possible by myself and a team of awesome Alaskans. It takes a lot of work to provide the content we do. I am now in Juneau for the session, which means paying rent for the place I’m staying at. If you enjoy the content we provide, please consider making a one time or recurring monthly donation. You can click here to donate. We have a donation system that makes it super easy. We would really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone who has been supportive!
Alaskans in crisis often get tangled in the criminal justice system SPONSORED: When the state’s biggest provider of behavioral health services is the prison system, experts say, it’s time to start thinking differently about crisis intervention. Author: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Published March 11
Part 4 of 6 The Alaska Department of Corrections operates 13 correctional institutions capable of housing more than 4,800 inmates in locations across the state. It is also one of the state’s largest providers of behavioral health care services. represent a significant portion of those who are incarcerated in Alaska. Forty-two percent of Alaska inmates are identified as Trust beneficiaries each year, and about 22 percent of that population is considered to have severe, persistent mental illness, according to DOC Chief Mental Health Officer Adam Rutherford.
How behavioral health crises strain Alaska’s emergency rooms SPONSORED: Emergency medical personnel say that they can, will and do help patients in crisis - but that a new approach would benefit everyone involved. Author: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Published March 8
Part 3 of 6 A broken arm. A heart attack. A manic episode. Thoughts of suicide. All of these are emergencies, and any one of them might land you in the nearest emergency room. But the clinicians who work in those emergency rooms say the same high-energy, high-intensity environment that is life-saving for medical emergencies can also be high-risk for patients who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
Part 2 of 6 If you were born anytime in the last 60 years, you were probably taught from a young age that in an emergency, the very first thing you do is call 911. Dial that three-digit number from nearly anywhere in North America and you’ll be connected to a local public safety answering point, or PSAP, from which dispatchers can send police, fire and EMS units to help you with whatever your emergency may be. But what if your emergency isn’t a crime or physical ailment? Is the emergency response system really equipped to provide meaningful aid to someone who is experiencing a behavioral health crisis?