September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to reflect on how we can come together as a community to protect the mental health of Alaska’s young people. We believe afterschool is suicide prevention. Afterschool programs are more than just places for homework help or recreation — they are safe, supportive spaces where youth can build skills, develop meaningful relationships, and spend time offline. These everyday moments of connection can make all the difference.

Creating Safe, Affirming Environments

One of the most powerful protective factors for youth is feeling that they belong in safe and affirming environments. When a child is greeted warmly each day, knows what is expected of them, and feels heard when they share their thoughts, it fosters trust. Afterschool providers who choose reteaching and encouragement over punishment are not just helping youth meet expectations — they are literally helping to shape healthy neural pathways in young brains. Small, consistent acts of care strengthen the foundation that young people rely on when life becomes overwhelming.

Here are some things you can do:

Greeting and interacting with every youth every day.
Setting clear, positive expectations and reteaching them rather than relying on punishment.
Asking open-ended questions and listening without judgment.
Building strong Developmental Relationships that nurture trust and connection.

Building Healthy Peer Connections

Equally important are the friendships and peer connections formed in afterschool programs. Ice breakers, team-building games, and collaborative projects may seem simple, but they create bonds that protect against isolation — one of the biggest risk factors for suicide. When youth know they are part of a community, and when healthy peer norms are celebrated, they are less likely to feel alone in their struggles. Afterschool also provides a unique opportunity to have open conversations about online safety and healthy relationships, equipping youth with tools to navigate both in-person and digital worlds.

Afterschool programs can help foster them by:

Facilitating ice breakers, team builders, and daily check-ins.
Encouraging group collaboration through structured activities.
Creating opportunities to discuss online safety and healthy relationships.

Teaching Coping and Problem-Solving Skills

Another essential piece of prevention is teaching coping and problem-solving skills. These are lifelong tools that help young people manage stress and respond to challenges in healthy ways. Afterschool programs can normalize conversations about emotions, display resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in program spaces, and guide youth toward identifying coping strategies that work for them. Free youth-created 988 materials are available through the Alaska Department of Health and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA, giving programs engaging resources to share directly with young people.

Programs can:

Display the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in program spaces.
Guide youth in identifying their feelings and practicing healthy coping strategies.
Order free Alaska youth-created 988 materials from AK Department of Health HERE or from SAMHSA HERE

Supporting Youth Workers’ Mental Health

Of course, none of this work can happen without caring, supported adults. Suicide prevention is just as much about the mental health of youth workers as it is about the youth themselves. Staff who are overwhelmed or unsupported cannot show up fully for the children in their care. That’s why it’s critical for organizations to build wellness into the workplace: realistic workloads, healthy staff-to-youth ratios, competitive wages and benefits, and professional development that prioritizes mental health. National standards, such as those developed by the National Afterschool Association Job Quality Standards, provide useful guidance for building healthy work environments where staff can thrive.

Programs can:

Take inventory of staff and organizational support systems.
Establish realistic workloads and youth-to-staff ratios.
Provide competitive wages and benefits, including mental health coverage.
Integrate staff wellness into professional development.

Training Opportunities

Recognizing when a young person is struggling is not always easy. That’s why training is vital. Courses like Youth Mental Health First Aid course, offered through Alaska Afterschool Network, give adults the tools to notice changes in behavior and respond in ways that can save lives. Programs and communities interested can register for our upcoming training or email amcgovern@alaskachildrenstrust.org to request a training for your organization. Recognizing changes in a young person’s mental or physical health — and responding with care — can save lives.

If You Need Help - Help is available. You are not alone.

Suicide prevention is not just about responding to crises — it’s about creating environments where youth feel safe, supported, and connected every day. Afterschool programs across Alaska play a vital role in building that foundation. Together, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis:

Call or text 988 immediately.
Text TALK to 741741.
Chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
Call 911 in life-threatening situations.

Afterschool IS Suicide Prevention