With the arrival of winter, Alaska will see a significant decrease in daylight and temperatures. This increase in darkness can take a toll on the mental health of Alaskan residents. While life-long Alaskans may be accustomed to the lack of daylight, many still struggle with mental health during the long, dark days of winter.
The Alaska Behavioral Health Clinic has locations in Fairbanks and Anchorage, but it is their Fairbanks clinic that is helping to combat the seasonal mental health crisis.
The Sun Star interviewed Jesse Barrett, the senior licensed clinician at the Alaska Behavioral Health Child and Family Clinic. Just over a year ago, the clinic started the partial hospitalization program, or PHP…