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Information

What is it? 
The overarching prevention goal of this project is to reduce the risk for, and incidence of, substance abuse and mental health problems in Alaska’s senior population—defined for the purposes of this project as anyone 60+ years of age. This issue has been referred to as the “silent epidemic” and was recently described by former SAMHSA Administrator Charlie Curie as “under-estimated, under-identified, under-diagnosed, and under-treated.” Demographic projections indicate that the aging of the “baby boom” generation will increase the proportion of persons over age 65 from 13 percent currently to 20 percent by the year 2030.

The Seniors Behavioral Health Outreach & Prevention Coalition is a group of organizations with an active interest in senior substance abuse and mental health issues. Organizations currently active in this project include members of the community representing agencies such as AARP, Alaska Primary Care Association, Alaska Community Mental Health Services, the Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services, the Alaska State Independent Living Council, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Southeast Alaska Independent Living, the Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation, the Alaska Action Research Consortium, Access Alaska, Arctic Access, the UAA Alaska Geriatric Education Center, the Commission on Aging, and the Governor’s Joint Advisory Boards.  We would love to have you join us!

The project will utilize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). This formal 5-step process is designed to facilitate community planning and capacity-building to better implement prevention efforts.

Interested in participating?  E-mail questions/comments msullivan@akeela.org

2009 SENIORS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COALITION REPORT

LINKS TO SENIOR SERVICES/RESOURCES

AARP: http://www.aarp.org/states/ak/
Marlow Manor: http://www.marlowmanor.com/servlet/content/home.html
Alaska Demographics/Aging of Alaska: http://www.muni.org/iceimages/OECD/General%20Demographic%20Indicators%202007.pdf
Geriatric Education Center: http://www.alaskagec.org/
Mental Health Trust Training Cooperative: http://www.trusttrainingcoop.org/
Alaska Commission on Aging: http://www.alaskaaging.org/

For a great list of senior services, visit the Ombudsman resource page at:

http://www.akoltco.org/index.cfm?section=links