The Alaska Psychiatric Institute, photographed Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
Growing up in Southeast Alaska, I first learned about Alaska Psychiatric Institute, or API, about 30 years ago. With our high rates of suicide, depression and mental health issues, I think many Alaskans know “of” API. When you just know “of” a place, a person tends to form their opinion of the place based on hearsay. This is how my impression of, and what I thought I knew about API, developed over the years. I have always envisioned API to be a kind of dark, depressing place that would be like a sterile facility — like a jail. I am actively pursuing my Master in Social Work, or MSW, at University of Alaska Anchorage and I am set to graduate in May 2023. My practicum placement is at the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, with Commissioner Kim Kovol as my supervisor. The focus of my practicum is “complex care,” where a team of stakeholders have the goal of identifying and addressing the multi-faceted needs of patients for optimal care, which often is very costly. As part of my studies, I recently traveled to Anchorage to do several site visits, and API was on the list of the facilities to visit. I wanted to see in person if API matched what I knew “of” it and I was open to seeing what they had to offer and not rely just on my long-held personal impressions.
On Nov. 21, I went to visit API and take a tour of the facility. The outside of the building was not anything spectacular. I guess you can say “don’t judge a book by its cover,” because as soon as I entered the front door, the lobby blossomed with beautiful artwork. I marveled at the warm environment, and I thought to myself that this must be the work of the Alaska Council of the Arts, commissioning artists to do artwork for state facilities. We went to check in at the front desk and were greeted by two smiling employees who greeted us with the highest level of customer service. I place a high value on customer service, and they absolutely nailed it, an experience that carried forward with the rest of the staff I encountered. After checking-in as guests, we started our tour. To the right of the lobby, I grew curious about a room with dim lighting. As I entered, I realized it was a quiet room to unwind and envelop in a presence of peace. I took in the stained-glass windows where the dim light entered the room and the wide padded benches suitable for sitting, laying down, or meditating. The tour continued into an area that looked like a family game room with game tables like checkers, chess, and backgammon that was painted on the tables. We next explored the full-size gym equipped with a climbing wall with a room at the end of the gym that was designed for adult occupational therapy. Each new part of the facility I was exposed to sold me on the place and I liked what I was seeing. The next room we went to was a greenhouse for patients to work with plants, along with a fish tank, and I thought how valuable it must be for patients to work with plants.
Afterwards, we went to a unit where young adults resided. We were greeted by one of the patients who appeared to be in her own element and happy. She took a glance at us, lowered her stance to “ready-set-go” and took off running down the hall, did a swift turn, and returned to her starting point with a big smile on her face. It was heartwarming to see the empathy and compassion the staff had with the patients. As we returned to the front lobby, we passed artwork along the way that took my breath away. One area had several birds that were individually hand painted and attached to the side of the building. In my brief walk past, I didn’t fully capture the story or meaning behind the artwork, but it engaged me.
Prior to visiting API, my first impression of what they had to offer would have potentially caused me hesitation about sending clients there. During my visit, I learned that over the past four years, state leadership has been focused on returning a sense of stability to API. In the past two years, API has a stabilized its leadership team that includes its longest-tenured CEO in the past six years. Outside consultants have assisted the team in meeting regulatory compliance standards, and the facility is again in good standing with accrediting bodies. These recent improvements have increased capacity to 70 beds after a low of 19. Another recent accomplishment includes reopening the much-needed Chilkat Unit in May of 2021; this unit serves adolescents in acute psychiatric crises. This unit provides therapeutic programming and safety for youth patients.
Thankfully, visiting API caused a complete about-face for me by experiencing the welcoming environment from the minute I walked in the door. Now that I have a more thorough understanding of the culture and offerings of API after the site visit, I would not hesitate to refer patients in need of mental health assessments and care to API. I am glad that I had the opportunity to visit API and form my own educated opinion. As an Alaska MSW student with graduation in the near future and entering the workforce, I feel better knowing there are facilities like API in Alaska to refer patients and clients to for care.
Cass Pook, BSW, is studying for a Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She previously served for nearly two decades on the Sitka School Board and formerly worked as a counselor for Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.
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