At NAMI Fairbanks, we are deeply grateful to be one of the organizations supported through Pick.Click.Give. each year. Because of you, your generosity continues to make a real and lasting difference for individuals and families in the Fairbanks area who are navigating mental health challenges.

What Is Pick.Click.Give.?

Pick.Click.Give. is Alaska’s statewide charitable giving program that allows you to donate part—or all—of your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend to eligible Alaska nonprofits when you apply online.

Donations are made in $25 increments, are tax-deductible, and cost nothing upfront. It’s an easy way to make a lasting local impact with a few simple clicks.

Your Pick.Click.Give. Support Makes a Difference

Each year, donations received through Pick.Click.Give. help sustain the programs and services our community relies on most. These gifts have helped us:

• Offer free education classes for families and caregivers
• Provide support groups where people feel seen, heard, and understood
• Expand mental health awareness for youth and young adults
• Strengthen local outreach and advocacy efforts

Your gift helps ensure that no one in our community has to navigate mental health challenges alone.

Thank You for Giving Where You Live

If you’ve chosen NAMI Fairbanks through Pick.Click.Give. in the past, thank you. Your support has helped ensure that mental health resources remain accessible, local, and rooted in compassion. We see the impact of your generosity in full classrooms, supportive conversations, and families who no longer feel alone.

And if you’re applying for your PFD this year and planning to Pick.Click.Give. again, we invite you to keep NAMI Fairbanks in mind.

How to Give to NAMI Fairbanks Through Pick.Click.Give.

When you apply for your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, simply:

1. Select Pick.Click.Give.
2. Search for NAMI Fairbanks
3. Choose your donation amount and submit

That’s it. In just a few minutes, you’ve made a meaningful investment in mental health for our community.

Every Gift Makes a Difference

Whether you give $25 or more, your participation matters. Pick.Click.Give. is a reminder that when Alaskans care for one another, meaningful change follows. We are honored to be part of your charitable choices and thankful for the trust you place in NAMI Fairbanks year after year.

Help Us Spread the Word

You can help amplify this impact by sharing this opportunity with friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors. A simple reminder during this PFD season can make all the difference.

Together, we can turn our PFDs into compassion, connection, and hope.

Pick. Click. Give.
Choose NAMI Fairbanks.
Because mental health matters—right here at home.

The post Support NAMI Fairbanks Through Pick.Click.Give. appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

Location: North Pole Welcome Center
Register now: namiwalks.org/fairbanks

This year’s theme says it all:

Together we are NAMIWalks.

Together, we shine a light on mental health.
Together, we break stigma.
Together, we show our neighbors, families, and friends: you are not alone.

Be Part of Something Bigger

Whether you’re walking for yourself, a loved one, your community, or the future—your steps matter. And there’s more than one way to make a difference:

Register to Walk or Run

Anyone can participate! It’s free, fun, and family-friendly.

Volunteer

Help us behind the scenes or on event day. Volunteers are the heart of NAMIWalks!

👉 Join us this Saturday for the Volunteer Interest Meeting:
📆 January 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
📍 NAMI Fairbanks – 3504 Industrial Ave, Suite 102

If you’re looking for a way to use your time, energy, and talents to make a real difference, this is your moment. Whether you love planning, welcoming others, organizing, cheering, or supporting quietly behind the scenes—there’s a place for you. Your impact will ripple far beyond walk day.

Become a Team Captain

Lead the charge by starting a team. Rally your friends, coworkers, or club to walk together and fundraise for mental health.

Why We Walk

NAMI Fairbanks provides free mental health education, support groups, school presentations, and a local helpline—thanks to the generosity of people like you. When you walk, volunteer, or fundraise, you help someone in our community find hope, healing, and connection.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Visit namiwalks.org/fairbanks to register, start a team, or sign up to volunteer today.
Together, we are NAMIWalks—and together, we are unstoppable.

The post Together We Are NAMIWalks: Join Us! appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.

Each year, NAMI Fairbanks is honored to support University of Alaska Fairbanks students through our endowed scholarships—awards created to uplift students whose academic goals and lived experiences align with our mission of improving mental health outcomes across Alaska.

Today, we celebrate the 2025–2026 NAMI Fairbanks Scholarship Recipients and share how these scholarships continue to change lives.

Our Scholarships at a Glance

NAMI Fairbanks proudly offers several scholarships through our endowed funds at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. While each award has its own history and purpose, all share one mission—supporting students whose lives, studies, and future careers will strengthen mental health and reduce stigma across Alaska.

Joy Albin Scholarship

Supports part-time or full-time undergraduate students in any field of study at UAF. This scholarship recognizes students who show dedication, resilience, and the potential to make a positive impact within their communities.

Ann Denardo Memorial Scholarship

Provides support to part-time or full-time students in any field whose families have been touched by mental illness. This award honors Ann Denardo’s legacy by uplifting students whose personal experiences inspire them to pursue education, understanding, and advocacy.

Kate Cross Das and Deben Das Graduate Scholarship

Awarded to part-time or full-time graduate students in any field who intend to serve individuals living with mental illness or dedicate their careers to education, advocacy, and reducing stigma. This scholarship supports emerging leaders preparing for roles in research, counseling, social services, and other fields where mental health understanding is essential.

NAMI Rural Campus Scholarship

Supports part-time or full-time students enrolled at any rural UAF campus (excluding the Community and Technical College). Open to students in any major, the scholarship prioritizes those committed to mental health advocacy, counseling, social work, psychology, and supporting individuals and families in rural communities.

Why These Scholarships Matter

The voices of past scholarship recipients remind us that these awards are life-changing. Students consistently share that receiving a NAMI scholarship:

• relieves the financial burden of tuition or living expenses
• allows them to focus fully on their studies and career preparation
• affirms their commitment to mental health advocacy and service
• helps them balance school with work, parenting, or community responsibilities
• gives them hope and confidence, knowing their community believes in them

Many recipients are first-generation college students, working parents, or individuals returning to school with a renewed sense of purpose. Their stories speak to the transformative impact of community support.

Looking Back: Stories That Inspire

Last year’s recipients described powerful journeys that continue to illuminate the purpose of this endowment:

• A psychology major working toward becoming a Marriage & Family Counselor while balancing school, parenting, and community service.
• A first-generation student who arrived at UAF unsure of her academic abilities and found confidence, purpose, and mentorship.
• A homeschool program coordinator dedicating her career to trauma-informed education and student support.
• A biological sciences student preparing for veterinary school while working multiple jobs and giving back to Fairbanks.
• An accounting student overcoming socioeconomic barriers and building a future rooted in service and leadership.

Their stories reflect the resilience, determination, and compassion that define the spirit of NAMI’s mission.

Introducing the 2025–2026 Scholarship Recipients

Elizabeth Brown – NAMI of Fairbanks Joy Albin Scholarship
Lillian Gengler – NAMI of Fairbanks Joy Albin Scholarship
Theo Anderson – NAMI of Fairbanks Ann Denardo Memorial Scholarship
Olivia Manley – NAMI of Fairbanks Ann Denardo Memorial Scholarship
Christine Ryan – NAMI Rural Campus Scholarship
Megan Lingle – NAMI Fairbanks Kate Cross Das and Deben Das Graduate Scholarship

These students represent the next generation of mental health advocates, behavioral health professionals, educators, counselors, researchers, and care providers. Their studies span fields that all touch mental health—from psychology and counseling to anthropology, public health, accounting, biology, and beyond.

Most importantly, each student brings a personal commitment to strengthening wellbeing in their communities—whether in Fairbanks, rural Alaska, or across the state.

Building a Stronger Future for Mental Health in Alaska

The NAMI Fairbanks Scholarship Endowment was created with a simple but powerful vision:
to support students who will one day support others.

Every recipient represents hope—hope for better access to mental health care, deeper understanding of mental illness, stronger support for families, and a brighter future for Alaskans.

To our donors, partners, and friends: thank you for making this possible.
Your generosity lifts students, strengthens our mental health workforce, and builds a more resilient Alaska.

Congratulations to our 2025–2026 scholarship recipients.
We are proud of you, inspired by you, and cheering you on every step of the way.

To learn more or apply for a NAMI Fairbanks scholarship, contact the financial aid office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 907-474-7256

The post Celebrating the 2025–2026 NAMI Fairbanks Scholarship Recipients appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.

When mental illness enters a family, it changes routines, relationships, and expectations. You may find yourself juggling appointments, managing unpredictable behavior, or walking on eggshells to avoid triggering anxiety or conflict. It’s common to feel frustration, fear, confusion, grief, or even guilt—especially when you don’t have the tools or information you need.

And while you may show up every day with love and good intentions, you may also feel alone.
But you don’t have to.

Introducing NAMI Family-to-Family

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, research-based education program created specifically for family members, partners, and caregivers of someone living with a mental health condition. It’s taught by people who have walked this path—not by clinical professionals, but by family members who truly get it.

Over the course of the program, you’ll learn:

• What mental health diagnoses mean—and what they don’t
• How treatment works, including medications and therapies
• Communication and problem-solving strategies that help everyone feel heard
• How to navigate crisis situations and advocate confidently
• The importance of boundaries, self-care, and long-term resilience

But perhaps the most meaningful part isn’t found in the curriculum—it’s found in the connection. For many people, the first night feels like a weight lifting: “These people understand. I’m not alone.”

Why This Matters

Mental illness can make family life unpredictable. One day your loved one may seem motivated and hopeful; the next, small tasks may feel impossible to them. You may struggle to separate the person you love from the symptoms they’re experiencing. You may wonder if you should step in, step back, or do both simultaneously.

These challenges are real—and you deserve support, too.

Taking NAMI Family-to-Family doesn’t mean you’re failing or unsure. It means you are strong enough to learn, to grow, and to show up more effectively—for your loved one and for yourself.

Hope and Help Are Within Reach

Participants often share that after completing the class, they feel:

• Less overwhelmed
• More informed
• More confident
• More hopeful
• More connected

Some even describe the experience as the moment everything finally started to make sense.

Your Journey Doesn’t Have to Feel So Heavy

If you are tired of guessing, worried you might be doing the wrong thing, or simply longing to talk to others who understand—this course is for you.

Registration is now open for the upcoming in-person NAMI Family-to-Family class offered by NAMI Fairbanks. The class is completely free, and space is limited.

You’ve been supporting your loved one.
Now it’s time to support you.

👉 Pre-register here—and take the next step toward clarity, connection, and hope. Click the link or call 907-456-4704.

The post When Someone You Love Is Struggling: Why You Don’t Have to Navigate Mental Illness Alone appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.

(Reposted from its original publication on April 20, 2022)

Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be, or actually is, a disadvantage (a negative stereotype). Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common.

Stigma can lead to discrimination. Discrimination may be obvious and direct, such as someone making a negative remark about your mental illness or your treatment. Or it may be unintentional or subtle, such as someone avoiding you because the person assumes you could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to your mental illness. You may even judge yourself.

Some of the harmful effects of stigma can include:

• Reluctance to seek help or treatment
• Lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers or others
• Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing
• Bullying, physical violence or harassment
• Health insurance that doesn’t adequately cover your mental illness treatment
• The belief that you’ll never succeed at certain challenges or that you can’t improve your situation

Here are some ways you can deal with stigma:

• Get treatment.You may be reluctant to admit you need treatment. Don’t let the fear of being labeled with a mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief by identifying what’s wrong and reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life.
• Don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame.Stigma doesn’t just come from others. You may mistakenly believe that your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking counseling, educating yourself about your condition and connecting with others who have mental illness can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment.
• Don’t isolate yourself.If you have a mental illness, you may be reluctant to tell anyone about it. Your family, friends, clergy or members of your community can offer you support if they know about your mental illness. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need.
• Don’t equate yourself with your illness.You are not an illness. So instead of saying “I’m bipolar,” say “I have bipolar disorder.” Instead of calling yourself “a schizophrenic,” say “I have schizophrenia.”
• Join a support group.Some local and national groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), offer local programs and internet resources that help reduce stigma by educating people who have mental illness, their families and the general public. Some state and federal agencies and programs, such as those that focus on vocational rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), offer support for people with mental illness.
• Get help at school.If you or your child has a mental illness that affects learning, find out what plans and programs might help. Discrimination against students because of a mental illness is against the law, and educators at primary, secondary and college levels are required to accommodate students as best they can. Talk to teachers, professors or administrators about the best approach and resources. If a teacher doesn’t know about a student’s disability, it can lead to discrimination, barriers to learning and poor grades.
• Speak out against stigma. Consider expressing your opinions at events, in letters to the editor or on the internet. It can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and educate the public about mental illness.

Others’ judgments almost always stem from a lack of understanding rather than information based on facts. Learning to accept your condition and recognize what you need to do to treat it, seeking support, and helping educate others can make a big difference.

Rather than figure out where stigma begins, it’s easier to become more aware of what it is and when it occurs. Then we can do our best to educate others about how to reduce stigma and work toward ultimately eliminating it.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I am very particular about who I share my mental health with, and this is all because of stigma. I’ve faced judgement, prejudice, ridicule, and teasing because of my mental illness. As a result, I am very private about it. That bothers me because I want so bad to educate people. But our society is not very forgiving, so I’ve chosen to pick my outlets to help others very carefully. That is why I am involved with NAMI. It’s a safe place to help others and I am so grateful for the people I meet through NAMI and the NAMI Connections peer to peer group. It’s one of the few places that I feel comfortable being me and I feel like I have finally found “my people.”

The post Overcoming Stigma appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.

These services are necessary because of the high level of need and wide range of behavioral health emergencies experienced by residents of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, outlying communities, and surrounding military bases.

Alaska Behavioral Health has operated a mobile crisis team (MCT) for almost 2.5 years in the Fairbanks North Star Borough with funding from the Trust. They consistently resolve over 80% of callouts without need for law enforcement involvement, hospitalization, or incarceration. The MCT is dispatched by Fairbanks Emergency Communication Center and has agreements with the following law enforcement agencies: the Fairbanks Police Department, North Pole Police Department, and Fairbanks Airport Police. The Alaska State Troopers are developing a process for dispatching the MCT and the MCT joins AST on some behavioral health calls at this time. During this period of extreme upheaval in the workforce, the MCT has experienced very low turnover with a committed team of clinicians and peer support specialists. A huge benefit of utilizing peers in crisis services is not only their unique ability to engage and understand the experience of the person in crisis, but it also creates a new career pathway for individuals who have experienced a variety of struggles in life to be able to work to professionally assist others in crisis. As the lead clinician, Anthony Mosinski, says about peers—”it’s the community healing itself.”

Our newest endeavor in the behavioral health space at the City of Fairbanks is to expand to the next step of the Crisis Now model—a crisis stabilization center to serve the Interior Region of Alaska. More information about the center can be found at the City’s website. You can also read the City of Fairbanks’ Legislative and Capital Priority for 2024 here.

The stabilization centers are person-centered living room models where the staff are trained in engagement and crisis intervention. Public safety agencies are able to drop off patients to the center and expect a 100% acceptance rate. This allows the officer or emergency services team to get back on the road to help others. The centers are able to provide the full spectrum of behavioral health emergency care to include involuntary holds and sedation. The centers also accept walk-in patients who come in on their own accord.

Crisis Now Community Coordinator, Brenda McFarlane, and Deputy Chief Richard Sweet, traveled to Juneau last month to advocate for funds for a stabilization center. The team visited Senators Bishop, Kawasaki, and Myers and Representatives Carrick, Dibert, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Prax and Rep. Baker from Kotzebue. They also met with the Department of Corrections and the Division of Behavioral Health to discuss the benefits to those departments of a stabilization center providing services in the Fairbanks area. They toured and met with the Juneau Police Department and Bartlett Regional Hospital Aurora Behavioral Health Center Crisis Care Services.

Our Interior Delegation is very receptive of the need for a full continuum of crisis care regionally rather than endure the cost and trauma of sending individuals to Anchorage or out of state for care. The City of Fairbanks also passed a resolution to allow for a request to Senator Murkowski for funds. To further support this ongoing project, you can write your own letter of support. A template is provided at the Crisis Center Support page, but your own story is always best to use when applying for funding. Those letters can be sent to bmcfarlane@fairbanks.us.

There is additionally another advocacy opportunity for Crisis Now. In the state’s budget, $1 million in funds has currently been cut from Crisis Now services. You have an opportunity to advocate that these funds be restored to the level recommended by the Trust of $1.5 million. This will allow the Trust to fund more Crisis Now development throughout the entire state and show that the state is prepared to partner on crisis care for our communities.

I’ll close with my testimony to the State of Alaska’s House Finance Committee. It applies to not only these funds in the operating budget, but our whole mission to provide essential services for our friends and family in need in Interior Alaska.

“I believe that many of the behavioral health needs in our state can be met in less costly and less traumatic ways by moving treatment to regional crisis stabilization centers. We want one in Fairbanks for our residents in crisis, who are shuttled repeatedly back and forth to the hospital’s emergency room by our ambulance and by our police officers. Crisis services are essential services that I believe the state needs to begin to partner on. Restoring this $1 million in funding for crisis services is a sign of good faith that the state believes investing in crisis care is necessary and worthwhile for all residents of the state.

Our mobile crisis team, that the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority fully funds and has for several years now, goes out to people from all walks of life experiencing many forms of crisis. Any one of us can have a traumatic brain injury. We have some of the highest rates in the country in Alaska and they can result in mental health episodes. Any of us can have a family member who is suicidal and in need of care, and many of us have friends and neighbors who suffer from depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, substance misuse, etc.

Building a system of crisis care just makes sense, especially when you look at the cost of the high levels of suicide, domestic violence, and substance misuse in our state. We pay for it anyway! We pay highly for not having a working system with misspent funds, sending our juveniles out of state for behavioral healthcare, and we pay for it with lives…. I implore you to take the Mission on, let’s get ahead of this. Let’s be proactive.”

The post Update on Expansion of Crisis Services in Interior Alaska appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.

Hello Friend, NAMI Fairbanks would like to invite you to the 40th Annual Membership Meeting where you will have the opportunity to:   Meet the NAMI Fairbanks board members Receive the Annual Report Learn about the NAMI Fairbanks Youth and Young Adult Initiative And be inspired by the impact we are making together for mental health in Fairbanks, Alaska!  It will be held on Thursday, February 29th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the JP Jones Center, 2400 Rickert St, Fairbanks, AK 99701. There will be a potluck dinner. You are welcome to bring a dish if you would like, but it is not required. We just want you to come!  To RSVP, or if you have questions please email office@namifairbanks.org or call NAMI Fairbanks at 907 – 456 – 4704. Feel free to invite others who are interested in mental health in our community. Members of NAMI Fairbanks will be eligible to vote in board member elections at the annual meeting. See below for information on how to become a member or renew your annual membership. You do not have to be a member to attend. Looking forward to seeing you at the Annual Membership Meeting February 29th at 6pm!   Join or Renew Membership Here

The post 40th Annual Meeting February 29th appeared first on NAMI Fairbanks.