This article will provide some background about mental health help in Anchorage, Alaska and offer LGBTQ+ and mental health facts, and resources.
According to The National Alliance on mental illness, since 2021, 1 in 5 people in the United States report experiencing mental illness each year. Alaska’s population is about 731,545 (2019). According to SAMHSA, nearly 4.2% of adults in Alaska live with severe mental health conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
At LGBTQ AND ALL, we want to ensure that our audience has no barriers to care. That’s why we created our Mental Health resources database. If you are looking for mental health assistance in Anchorage, our database at LGBTQ AND ALL has suggestions for therapists and clinics in the area.
Now, let’s learn more about Anchorage, Alaska, its history, and what resources are available for locals or newcomers to the area.
What are Some of Anchorage’s Top Features?
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, located in the south-central section of the state on the Cook Inlet. It is famous for its cultural sites, like the Alaska Native Heritage Center. This center features traditional crafts, stage dances, and replicas of dwellings from the city’s indigenous groups. Anchorage is also near wilderness areas and mountains like the Chugach, Kenai, and Talkeetna.
Here are some of the top things you can do while visiting this city:
- Go flightseeing
- Hike along the Flattop Mountain
- Take a visit to the museum
- Check out the Anchorage market
- Go on a Glacier Cruise
- Take the Whittier Tunnel to hike Portage Pass
- Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center
- Go for a scenic drive along Seward Highway.
Three Quick Facts about Anchorage
There are many fascinating facts about Anchorage, especially historically. Here are three tidbits about this destination:
- Captain James Cook explored the Anchorage area in 1778.
- The city of Anchorage started in 1914 after being chosen to be at a railroad construction port for the Alaska Railroad.
- The construction of the Alaska Railroad took place in 1915. The area near the railroad headquarters (towards the mouth of Ship Creek) became a tent city of workers. This turned Anchorage into a bustling frontier town.
What is the History/Data of the Area?
After establishing Anchorage, a townsite was put in the following year along the bluff to the south. Anchorage mainly became a company town for the Alaska Railroad several decades later.
Because of a significant military presence and resource development activities across Alaska, Anchorage has considerably boosted its population and economic base since 1940.
In 1964, an earthquake wreaked havoc on most Anchorage neighborhoods, especially those adjacent to Knik Arm. The quake also impacted downtown Anchorage. However, the community rallied and rebuilt Anchorage quickly – it has continued to emerge as a major American city.
What’s LGBTQ+ Life Like in Anchorage?
According to a survey from Gallup/Williams in 2019, 3.7% of adults (18+) identify as LGBTQ+ in Anchorage. The total LGBTQ+ population (13+) is 25,000, and the total LGBTQ+ workforce (according to Williams in 2020) is 4%. A Census from 2018 and a survey from Williams in 2020 determined that there are 15,000 total LGBTQ+ workers in Anchorage. In 2019, a survey from Williams discovered that 34% of LGBTQ+ adults over the age of 25 are raising children.
This city has a rating of 85 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. This index ranks how welcoming a city’s laws, policies and services are for its LGBTQ+ residents.
Anchorage is full of culture and stunning sights just waiting to be discovered. One popular LGBTQ+ destination is the gay bar and lounge Mad Myrna, which hosts fantastic drag shows, club nights, and Drageoke.
Anchorage also has an annual Pride event that has taken place for the past 44 years. This public celebration aims to give Alaskans the means to celebrate their state’s diversity and expresses the community’s pride in the LGBTQ+ population.
Overall, Anchorage is an ideal destination for people looking for a welcoming LGBTQ+ environment featuring entertainment and world-class outdoor experiences.
What are some Mental Health Stats about Anchorage?
According to the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, 14.8% of adults in Alaska ages 18 and older said they experienced mental distress often. In addition, 12% of people living in Anchorage reported having or experiencing anxiety.
Alaska also was ranked the 4th highest age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States in 2020, with 24.4 deaths per 100,000. In addition, the suicide rate for Alaskans ages 15-24 years in 2018 of 44.2 deaths per 100,000 exceeded the Healthy Alaskans 2020 goal of 43.2 deaths per 100,000.
About only 35.7% of adults with a mental health condition in Alaska will receive any type of treatment from either public or private providers (according to SAMHSA). The remaining percentage receives no mental health treatment at all. However, at LGBTQ and All, we have various mental health resources in Anchorage if you want to find care for yourself, a child, or someone else you know.
Takeaway
Many people across Alaska are seeking mental health care. At LGBTQ AND ALL, we want to provide accessible mental health options for everyone in the United States and worldwide. For a convenient access guide to care, you can check out our mental health resources database. This link has suggestions for therapists and clinics in the area.
If you are a healthcare provider looking to add your name to the database, please visit https://www.lgbtqandall.com/add-your-business/. We provide convenient options, like your first month free and then an affordable price of $19.99/monthly after your trial.
