We Need You

to help prevent youth suicide

1-800-478-3321

Maniilaq Health Center

988

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

1-877-266-HELP (4357)

Alaska Careline

1-800-789-3222

Alaska State Troopers

Youth Suicide Warning Signs

  • Increased drug or alcohol use
  • Talking about ending their life or threatening suicide
  • Withdrawing from family, friends and activities
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Extreme changes in personality or behaviors
  • Aggression
  • Loss of interest in their appearance
  • Recent trauma, loss or life changes
  • Giving away things that are important to them
  • Self-harm or dangerous behaviors
  • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
  • Making a will
  • Cleaning up their room more than usual
  • Buying a firearm

What Maniilaq can do

to prevent suicide

Maniilaq is available to respond 24 hours a day to someone who is suicidal.

By contacting local authorities or the Maniilaq Clinic in your village we can respond immediately and provide the support that is necessary to keep people alive. Maniilaq will provide medical and mental health assessments to help people get to the care they need when they need it the most. This is provided through risk assessments, crisis interventions, and referrals to higher level of care as needed. We have staff available around the clock to ensure a fast response and the best care available in the region.

In some cases, a suicidal person may be uncooperative and refuse health care from Maniilaq. For emergencies like this, please call 911 immediately if you are located in Kotzebue or Point Hope. If you are located in another Maniilaq service area village, you should contact the Alaska State Troopers at 1-800-789-3222.

If you or someone you know is thinking about hurting themselves or others, please seek help immediately.

In Kotzebue, please visit the Maniilaq Health Center Emergency Room to speak with an on-call clinician. You can also call the Emergency Room at 907-442-7202 to speak with someone who can help.

If you live in the village please contact the village clinic, local village Behavioral Health Aide, or contact Maniilaq at 1-800-478-3321 to speak to the Emergency Room.

If you or someone you know is interested in Counseling and Recovery services, please visit us in Kotzebue at the Ferguson building (left stairs entrance) between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon or 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. In the village, please visit your local clinic and see our Behavioral Health Aide. You can also call us at 907-442-7640 to schedule an appointment.

Call now
Maniilaq Emergency Room

907-442-7202
1-800-478-3321

Maniilaq Counseling and Recovery

907-442-7640

Free and confidential help 24/7

Call, text or chat to talk with someone if:

  • you are in crisis
  • you are concerned about someone
  • you are grieving
  • you are feeling down and need someone to talk to
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call: 988
Text: 988
Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/

Alaska Careline

Call: 1-877-266-HELP (4357)
Visit: CarelineAlaska.com

If you are not currently in crisis but want to get involved or are seeking support at the local level, please contact the Maniilaq Wellness Program at 907-363-2160.

What You Can Do

to help when our youth are struggling

Be with them

Listen fully without interrupting, giving advice or trying to cheer them up

Reach out to family members, friends
and mental health workers

  • Maniilaq Emergency Room: 1-800-478-3321
  • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
  • Alaska Careline: 1-877-266-HELP (4357)

Make their home safer

  • Take bullets out of guns
  • Lock up ammo and guns separately
  • Remove alcohol
  • Remove locks from doors
  • Stay with them to make sure they are safe
  • Remove medications and over-the-counter pills
  • Eliminate access to vehicles by confiscating or
    securing keys

What You Can Do

to support our youth

Listen to young people in your life

  • Ask them about their thoughts, feelings and experiences
  • Give them time and space to speak freely
  • Show acceptance and willingness to listen
  • Avoid interrupting, giving advice or trying to cheer them up. Just listen.
  • Reflect back what you heard: “It sounds like it is really hard for you when….”
  • Ask open-ended questions about next steps:
    “What do you want to do about it?”
    “How have you handled this before?”
    “What can you do to get through this?”

Get Our Youth Out On The Land!

Young people in our region say that going out on the land supports their wellness. Take youth with you when you do subsistence activities.

Grief takes time for healing and lasts far beyond the funeral. Click here for help:

Help guide

Resources to help support someone who is grieving:

APA Help Center
Huffpost
What’s Your Grief