Some members question $85,000 suicide‑prevention media campaign and behavioral health funding; item remains adopted

Senator Kaufman objected for discussion to item 16 in the Department of Health portion of the motion sheet, which funds an $85,000 media campaign, saying it was questionable to fund such a campaign when the state was facing layoffs and other funding pressures.

Senator Tom Hoffman responded that the funding aligns with the statewide Suicide Prevention Council’s 2023–2027 plan, titled “Messages of Hope,” and pointed to council recommendations at pages 24–25 supporting public messaging and safe firearm storage to reduce youth access as part of suicide prevention. Hoffman noted the subcommittee and Finance Committee previously adopted the item, and that it had passed the House floor.

Kaufman also raised concerns about behavioral‑health funding and Anchorage’s homelessness and behavioral‑health challenges. Hoffman acknowledged the complexity of writing behavioral‑health grants that interact with senior disability services and Medicaid and said the item merited further attention in January.

Later in the meeting a motion to reopen item 16 failed; the committee voted not to reopen that specific item, and the Department of Health items as adopted remained in the conference report.

The transcript records the $85,000 campaign amount and identifies the “Messages of Hope” plan and the American Association of Suicidology recommendation on safe storage as the cited rationale for the campaign item.