Unalaska, AK – A group is traveling to Unalaska to gather information on local behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services. Representatives from the Alaska Mental Health Board, the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and others want to know how people are using local services and how the services can be improved.

"We want to come as an open ear. We come to be able to offer the community an opportunity to be able to talk about their behavioral health services and the system overall," explained Rebecca Busch, a planner for the Advisory Board on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. We want to talk "about what is working and what's not necessarily working for the community. And to get a feel for how things are going for that particular community and the surrounding areas."

Busch said the group is coming to gather anecdotal, qualitative data that isn't available through typical program assessments. They want to hear about what's available for all segments of the community. They will be hosting three meetings: one that's geared towards people who have received services, one for the entire community, and one for service providers. They also hope to talk about the stigma associated with behavioral health services.

"In different communities there maybe more of a stigma against, say for example, a person with substance abuse issues. And so a person who may require those services may be more apprehensive to seek those services because of what they see as potential judgment from other community members," she said.

All of the information will be gathered into a report that can be used by the community to help tailor local services to local needs. The information will also be used by the Alaska Mental Health Trust and the state government to help improve what's available and potentially steer funding toward local programs. This is the fifth community the group has visited.

Busch said they also want to get information out about what's available and who can access it. If you don't feel comfortable going to a meeting but still want to give input to the project, you can contact Busch at rebecca.busch@alaska.gov or by calling (907)465-5114.

The first community meeting, for people who have used different behavioral health services, will take place at 5:30 pm on Wednesday at the Public Library. The second, for everyone and for people who want to access services but don't think they are eligible, will happen from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, Oct. 1, also at the Library.