Suicide Prevention Week Begins as Alaska Confronts Rise in Youth Deaths

New state data show 2025 was the deadliest year for youth suicide in a decade, underscoring the need for prevention, crisis support and community action.

Alaska is observing Suicide Prevention Week as new state data show youth suicide deaths reached their highest level in a decade in 2025.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy proclaimed Sept. 13 through 19 as Suicide Prevention Week in Alaska, calling attention to the statewide impact of suicide and the importance of prevention, early intervention and access to behavioral-health support. The observance falls during National Suicide Prevention Month.

The timing comes shortly after the Alaska Department of Health reported that the youth suicide fatality rate in 2025 was the highest recorded in the past 10 years. From 2016 through 2025, 174 Alaskans ages 10 to 18 died by suicide and 4,101 documented suicide attempts occurred among young people in that age group, according to the department’s Section of Epidemiology.

The 10-year youth suicide death rate was 19.2 deaths per 100,000 young Alaskans ages 10 to 18. The median age of young people who died was 16, the report said.

Boys died by suicide at more than four times the rate of girls, while girls attempted suicide at substantially higher rates, according to reporting on the newly released state data. Alaska Native youth also were disproportionately affected.

Health officials and suicide-prevention advocates emphasize that suicide is preventable and that family members, friends, teachers, co-workers and other community members can play an important role by recognizing distress, asking directly about suicide and helping connect someone to immediate support.

Alaskans experiencing suicidal thoughts, a mental-health crisis or emotional distress can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. But Careline Alaska stresses that people do not need to wait for an emergency or an immediate suicidal crisis to seek help.

Careline Alaska Is for Everyone

Careline Alaska says its free, confidential crisis line is available to anyone who needs support, including people who are not in an immediate crisis. Alaskans are encouraged to reach out if they are:

Actively in crisis
Concerned that their child is in crisis
A survivor of a suicide attempt
Grieving the death of someone who died by suicide
Experiencing suicidal thoughts
Struggling with non-suicidal self-injury
Having a panic attack
Feeling down and needing someone to talk with
Looking for local resources and unsure where to begin
Concerned about someone else
Interested in trying the line in advance, or showing a child, loved one or client how it works

👉🏿 Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Careline Alaska also can be reached statewide at 877-266-4357. The organization says its services are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Calls and texts to 988 from Alaska’s 907 area code are routed to Careline’s contact center.

The state’s recent youth-suicide bulletin describes the 2025 increase as an urgent reminder that prevention must reach young people before a crisis escalates. That work includes reducing barriers to mental-health care, strengthening support systems for youth and families, expanding culturally relevant services and safely limiting access to lethal means during periods of acute risk.

👉🏿 For immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

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