For years, Alaska has grappled with a shortage of behavioral health professionals, particularly those who can provide culturally relevant care to Alaska Native communities. UAA is addressing this need head-on with the launch of the Alaska Natives into Psychology (ANPsych) program. This initiative, funded by a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the Indian Health Service (IHS), aims to increase the number of Alaska Native and American Indian (ANAI) students pursuing advanced degrees in psychology, equipping them to serve their communities as mental health professionals.

The program builds on a decades-long commitment by UAA’s Clinical-Community Psychology Ph.D. program to create pathways for Alaska Native students into the mental health field. Although ANAI professionals represent only 0.13% of the psychologist workforce nationally, the program's enrollment numbers more closely align with Alaska's demographics, about 20% of students identifying as Alaska Native or American Indian.

The ANPsych program is part of a larger effort to address pressing mental health issues in Alaska — issues like suicide, substance abuse and trauma — that disproportionately affect Alaska Native populations. Yet, while the need for mental health services is urgent, there’s a significant gap in culturally congruent and culturally responsive care. According to E.J.R. David, Ph.D., program director and professor in the Department of Psychology, who led the effort to obtain the grant, the answer lies in training more Indigenous professionals who can bring both clinical expertise and cultural understanding to their communities: "The Ph.D. program, because of our indigenous and rural emphasis, is uniquely suited to address that issue."

A community-driven approach

ANPsych's design is rooted in a philosophy of cultural responsiveness, acknowledging that the best solutions to mental health challenges often come from within the community. It’s a collaborative, community-driven initiative building partnerships with key stakeholders including the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, UAA College of Health, Alaska Area Health Education Center, Iḷisaġvik College (Alaska's only tribal college), Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and local Alaska Native organizations. This approach is critical, David says, because community trust is essential to making the program’s outreach and recruitment efforts successful.

"Our community partners were chosen and established very strategically," said David, noting how they allow UAA’s psychology programs to connect directly with potential students from middle school through college, fostering a new generation of mental health professionals who are as diverse and unique as the communities they serve.

ANPsych is also actively engaging with local communities through outreach programs, such as visiting rural and urban schools and participating in the Elders and Youth Conference and the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. 

Supporting students in and beyond the classroom

One of the key pillars of the ANPsych program is its commitment to supporting students throughout their educational journey. The program offers generous scholarships for eligible ANAI students pursuing a doctoral psychology degree at UAA. These scholarships cover tuition and fees and provide a 12-month stipend, removing financial barriers  often preventing students from pursuing or completing advanced degrees.

"Not only does the scholarship help with recruitment of Alaska Native students into our Ph.D. program,"  said Eric Murphy, Ph.D., professor and CAS Assistant Dean of UAA's Department of Psychology. "It really helps with their time to completion. The faster they can get through the program, the faster they're out in the communities doing good."

Financial support is only part of the equation. ANPsych also emphasizes mentorship, which is connecting students with experienced Alaska Native professionals in the mental health field who can provide guidance, career advice and cultural support. Mentors help students navigate the challenges of graduate school while also building a strong sense of cultural identity and community connection. 

In addition to scholarships and mentorship, ANPsych is committed to fostering a robust, supportive community for its students. The program is designed to create a space where students can thrive academically, socially and culturally. Since receiving grant funding in August, the program has already hosted an on-campus mixer and information session as well as a guest lecture by UAA alumna Dr. Jacy Hutchinson  (Koyukon Athabascan). ANPsych has also awarded scholarships to two current students in UAA’s Psychology Ph.D. program, Tierra Schroeder (Yup’ik) and Amber Schmidt (Inupiaq). 

Mental health crisis meets community action

The timing of the ANPsych program could not be more crucial. Alaska has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, and recent reports, including a 2023 statement from the U.S. Surgeon General, highlight a growing crisis in children's mental health. The need for school psychologists alone is so acute that UAA recently launched a new master’s program in school psychology to address the shortage. Other initiatives underway include pursuing accreditation for the undergraduate and graduate behavior analysis degree programs and expanding the university's Psychological Services Center.

This integrated approach, which combines degree programs, scholarships, mentorship and community outreach, is designed to fill those gaps, not just for Alaska Native communities, but for all Alaskans in need of mental health care. 

"We're really at the forefront of this type of training," said Murphy, noting that several of the new UAA programs will be among the first to be accredited in the U.S. "It's an exciting time to be a part of UAA psychology."

Looking ahead

The ANPsych program’s vision is one of growth, collaboration and impact. In the future, the program aims to expand its offerings and offer funding to even more students.

"I hope we're able to extend it to also provide financial support to master's students, and also our undergraduate students — students in all levels," said David.

"That would really solidify the pipeline, right from undergrad all the way through to Ph.D.," added Murphy.

By strengthening the capacity of its graduate programs and supporting the next generation of psychology professionals, UAA is playing a crucial role in addressing Alaska’s mental health crisis. The ANPsych program is one of many steps toward a more inclusive and culturally responsive mental health care system in Alaska. As students trained through this program return to their communities, they will help ensure that mental health care is not only available but tailored to the needs of Alaskans.