Prevention program addresses suicide

WASILLA -- Nearly 130 Alaskans intentionally kill themselves every year. This, according to the latest report by the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, translates into 21.1 of every 100,000 Alaskans dying because of suicide -- twice the national average.

According to Jeanine Sparks, chairwoman for Alaska's Suicide Prevention Council, the Mat-Su Borough has an even higher average suicide rate than the rest of Alaska, especially in younger age groups.

On Friday, Sparks, who also works as a guidance counselor at Wasilla High School, headed a list of dignitaries for the unveiling of Alaska's first Suicide Prevention Council.

The prevention plan was released in conjunction with the first-ever World Suicide Prevention Day, an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization.

"I'm really optimistic and excited," Sparks said of the state's new plan. "We've worked very hard in its development and we're ready to move forward with prevention efforts."

The plan is intended to be a resource for all community organizations to use, whether they be churches, schools or government agencies. It will provide suicide information and questions to ask that might prevent suicides.

"This is not just a state responsibility," Sparks said.

For the last three years, the Mat-Su Borough School District has operated its own suicide prevention plan by sponsoring the Act Care Tell program, aimed to help kids recognize depression and ask for help. Sparks worked with the school district to implement and operate ACT Now.

According Kim Floyd, public information specialist for the Mat-Su Borough School District, ACT Now is an interactive plan that introduces material to small groups of students and allows them to discuss topics.

"It's a depression awareness program," Floyd said. "It was based on research, so we are confident in the method."

Floyd said the program can be administered by school counselors without putting additional work on regular classroom teachers.

With 29 percent of Alaska's suicides occurring before age 30, early prevention is one of the initiatives in the statewide plan.

According to Sparks, suicides often occur in surges within a community and during the crisis period, there is usually a concentrated prevention effort. That effort, however, is usually not sustained.

"When the rates drop, people relax and the support goes elsewhere," Sparks said. "That has happened in the Valley in the past. We need to sustain efforts until there are no suicides."

Sparks said kids in the Valley face a lot of down time, with nothing for them to do.

"Cities in the Valley are horizontal," Sparks said. "The community is spread out and it can be hard for kids to get transportation to services if they can't drive. We need more public transportation."

Parents also play a major role in preventing childhood depression, according to Sparks. By introducing kids to community service projects, sports and other activities, Sparks said parents can help reduce the amount of down time kids often experience.

"These are simple things people can do before kids show signs of trouble," she said.

This all takes time, however, and with work, commuting and the business of everyday life, finding that time can be difficult, according to Sparks.

From Boys & Girls Club to sports leagues, the Valley has an array of youth organizations and activities, but Sparks said it could use even more.

"We're doing a lot," Sparks said, "but the Valley is growing."

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.

com.