GCI's partnership with Alaska Careline connects Alaskans in crisis to lifesaving resources

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness about vital mental health resources. This September, GCI reaffirms its decade-long partnership with Careline Alaska, a service that ensures Alaskans in crisis have immediate access to lifesaving support, directly connecting them with trained, local counselors through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The company, Alaska’s largest telecommunications provider, delivers the essential connectivity that powers Careline Services’ two call centers in Fairbanks and Wasilla.

GCI’s support of Careline Alaska works parallel to the company’s Suicide Prevention Fund, which launched in 2016. To date, over $1 million in grants have been distributed to community-based organizations dedicated to saving lives, promoting mental wellness, and creating personal connections.

Careline Crisis Services, Inc., commonly referred to as the Alaska Careline, is the designated center in Alaska for calls placed to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. When Alaskans dial or text 988, they connect directly with Careline’s trained crisis counselors who live in Alaska. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, and every day of the year.

Through its philanthropy program, GCI Gives provides funding each year to help offset CareLine’s phone and internet service costs. That investment helps keep phone lines open for the No. 1 reason people call: loneliness. Whether someone is struggling with grief, substance use, or simply needs someone to talk to, counselors at Careline answer the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

GCI and Careline co‑designed a free 988 resource flyer (pictured above) available for download on GCI’s website. The one‑page handout outlines what callers can expect when they reach out: connection with a trained crisis counselor, help addressing safety concerns, and support in discovering a path forward. It lists who should call: anyone experiencing emotional distress, thinking about suicide, navigating grief or substance misuse, worrying about a loved one, or feeling intensely alone — and emphasizes that Careline is for Alaskans, with calls answered by Alaskans. Community organizations, schools, and event organizers are encouraged to print and share the flyer to make sure no one has to wonder how to get help.

“The services offered through our call center are a key piece of Alaska’s crisis‑care continuum. These counselors make sure that no Alaskan has to face loneliness or crisis alone,” said Susanna Marchuk, executive director of Careline Crisis Services, Inc. “Having locally staffed centers in Fairbanks and Wasilla means our counselors truly understand what our callers are going through.”

“When we first started our Suicide Prevention Fund 10 years ago, we knew there was more we could do to help make sure Alaskans are connected and receive access to suicide prevention training,” said Jenifer Nelson GCI’s Rural Affairs Senior Director. “Each year, we work on new ways to ensure our efforts make an impact and collaborating with Alaska Careline on these materials ensures that the information is readily available, and Alaskans have access to the resources they need year-round.”

Anyone seeking emotional support can call or text 988 at any time. Additional resources and free downloadable materials are available at gci.com/gives and carelinealaska.com.

About GCI

Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is an independent publicly traded company (Nasdaq: GLIBA, GLIBK, GLIBB) Learn more at https://www.gciliberty.com/.