Mental health resources for Alaska veterans

A lot is asked of our men and women in the military, whether active duty or those who have achieved veteran status. Per their service, they are required to constantly relocate, every three to four years depending on military branch. They must deploy to faraway places for training and service abroad, spending weeks and months without those closest to them.

Every day, they are asked to perform mentally and physically, with strength and stamina. They are, in principle, dissuaded from showing weakness. They are soldiers. They are warriors. They are strong.

This commanding image leaves little room for vulnerability. According to a 2014 study in JAMA Psychiatry, one in four active duty members show signs of a mental health condition, with the most common including PTSD, depression or a traumatic brain injury. The stress of being asked to perform under such rigor makes it difficult to reach out. Sometimes, the hardest part of healing from mental illness or trauma is acknowledging that you have it. In honor of Memorial Day and those who have dedicated their lives - physically, mentally and emotionally - for the security of us all, here is a list of veterans counseling services offered around the state.

Anchorage

Alaska VA Healthcare System. Provides mental health care. 1201 N. Muldoon Rd. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 907-257-4854

Anchorage Vet Center. Individual or group counseling for veterans. 4400 Business Park Blvd., Suite B-34. Mon 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tues.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 563-6966

Chris Kyle Patriot Home. For veterans seeking holistic addiction or PTSD treatment. 1650 Bragaw St. Available 24/7. 258-7575 or 1-800-478-7575 toll-free.

Fairbanks

Fairbanks Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Fairbanks Armory, 202 Wien St. 907-459-8729

Fairbanks Vet Center. Individual or group counseling for veterans. 540 4th Ave., Suite 100. Mon-Sat., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 907-456-4238

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared toward veterans care. 3407 Airport Way. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-891-7585

Juneau

Juneau Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Juneau Armory, 12300 Mendenhall Loop Rd., Suite 222B. 907-523-4020

Juneau VA. Provides mental health services. Must bring gov’t ID for entry to building. 709 W. 9th St. Federal Bldg., Suite 150. Mon-Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 907-796-4300

Bethel

Bethel Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Bethel Armory, 3704 Tower Rd. 907-543-0561

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared toward veterans care. 460 Ridgecrest Dr. #216. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-202-5116

Chugiak

Chugiak Eagle River Senior Center. Purple Heart Veterans Support Group. Meets every Thursday, 8 a.m. 22424 Birchwood Loop Rd. 907-688-2674

Dillingham

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared toward veterans care. 6 Main St. E., Suite 1A. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-891-7098

Ft. Greeley (Delta Junction)

Ft. Greeley Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Family Readiness, Building 601, Room 22. 907-873-4906

Ft. Wainwright

Fairbanks VA. Provides mental health care. 4076 Neeley Rd., Room 1J-101. Mon-Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 907-361-6370

Army Reserve Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Douthit Reserve Center (USAR) Bldg., 3470 Chippewa Ave. 907-384-7826

Homer

Independent Living Center. VOICE program allowing vets to receive in-home care. 265 E. Pioneer Ave., Suite 201. 907-235-7911

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared towards veterans care. 332 E. Pioneer Ave., Unit 2. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-891-7111

JBER

Air Force Reserve Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. 9443 Mundy Ave. 907-551-4746

Army Reserve Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. James E Lee Reserve Center (USAR), 45580 Otter Lake Rd. 907-384-7826

Coast Guard Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. US Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, G-Wing Bldg., 49000 Army Guard Rd. 907-428-4200

Marine Reserve Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. 15920 27th St. 907-552-7068

Navy Reserve Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Bldg. 733. 907-384-6487

Kenai

Kenai Senior Center. On-site or in-home counselor. Accepts Medicare. 361 Senior Ct. 907-283-4156

Kenai VA. Provides mental health and social work services. 11312 Kenai Spur Hwy., Suite 39. Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm. 907-395-4119

Kodiak

Independent Living Center. VOICE program allowing vets to receive in-home care. 211 Mission Rd., #206 & #208. Contact Tonya Lee at 907-486-0493.

Nome

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared towards veterans care. 110 Front St., Suite 200. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-891-7655

Palmer

Mat-Su Senior Services. Veterans Support Group. Meets every Tues. 9 to 11 a.m. 1132 S Chugach St. 907-745-5454

Seward

Independent Living Center. VOICE program allowing vets to receive in-home care. 201 Third Ave., Suite 101B. 907-224-8711

Soldotna

Independent Living Center. VOICE program allowing vets to receive in-home care. 47255 Princeton Ave., Suite 8. 907-262-6333

Kenai Vet Center. Individual or group counseling for veterans. 43299 Kalifornsky Beach Rd., Suite 4. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 907-260-7640

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared towards veterans care. 44539 Sterling Hwy. #206. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-891-7622

Wasilla

Mat-Su Family Assistance Center. Provides counseling services and suicide prevention support. Alcantra Armory, 3401 E. Bogard Rd. 907-373-9446

Mat-Su Clinic VA. Provides mental health care. 865 N. Seward Meridian Pkwy., Suite 105. Mon-Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 907-631-3100

ResCare HomeCare. Supportive in-home services geared towards veterans care. 892 E. Usa Cir., Suite 102. Mon-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 907-891-7101

Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. (WASI). Bible Study with Chaplain. Meets every Weds. 10 to 11 a.m. Chaplain also provides counseling intervention support. 1301 S. Century Cir. 907-376-3104

Wasilla Vet Center. Individual or group counseling for veterans. 851 E. West Point Dr., Suite 102. Mon, Wed-Sat., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tues., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 907-376-4318

Statewide

Veterans Crisis Line. Confidential crisis call center for veterans. Available 24/7. 1-800-273-8255, select option 1

Veterans Crisis Line. Crisis support for deaf and hard of hearing vets. Available 24/7. 1-800-799-4889

VA Combat Call Center. Confidential call center for combat vets. Available 24/7. 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Confidential crisis call center. Available 24/7. 800-273-8255