Welcome to Behavioral Health

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Having an easy-to-remember number for those needing mental health support has been in the planning stages nationally and in Alaska for many years. We’re pleased to announce that on July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is switching to a three-digit number (9-8-8).
Until it is active, and even after 988 goes live, you can still call the Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or the Alaska Careline at 877-266-HELP.
988 will be a direct connection to compassionate, accessible support for anyone experiencing mental-health related distress, including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.
Learn more.
Continuum of Care
The Division of Behavioral Health has a commitment to improving the quality of life of Alaskans through the right service to the right person at the right time. The central purpose of the division is to provide a continuum of statewide behavioral health services (mental health and substance use) ranging from prevention and screening to brief intervention and acute psychiatric care.
1115 Waiver Demonstration Project
Alaska’s 1115 Medicaid waiver, the Alaska Substance Use Disorder and Behavioral Health Program, was approved for the original demonstration period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2023. Alaska is submitting a renewal application, in accordance with CMS requirements, to continue this demonstration for another 5-year period, January 1, 2024-December 31, 2028. The waiver would continue to provide Alaska with the flexibility to offer a broad range of substance use disorder and behavioral health services and reduce the State’s reliance on crisis services. Visit the 1115 Behavioral Health Medicaid Waiver
Alaska Community Resources
Substance misuse and addiction treatment
Are you finding it difficult to stop using alcohol, prescription medications or other substances? If you've thought about cutting down or stopping, here is a list of providers,
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Providers (updated 12/2022) or see the links under Treatment Bed Availability on the right hand menu.
Alaska providers who offer opioid misuse treatment:
Resources for information on opioids (prescription pain medications, heroin and more) and treatment options:
Resources
Public Comment Sought
Combined Behavioral Health Assessment and Plan (SABG and MHBG)
Public input is open for this SAMHSA grant application. To view the application, log into https://bgas.samhsa.gov/ with the username citizenak and password citizen.
Once you log in, click on the link “View an Existing Application” then click the link “2023 Block Grant Application” Finally, click the tab “View Application” to view the current State of Alaska 2023 Block Grant application.
For questions please email HSS.DBH@Alaska.gov.