Suicide Prevention Council


Live to Ride. Call to Live.

Please contact the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council for information on the campaign or to share suicide prevention strategies and ideas.

Iron Dog Suicide Prevention Campaign

LIFE IS A TEAM EFFORT! from AlaskaDHSS on Vimeo.

2012: Iron Dog racers Archie Agnes and Arnold Marks of Tanana promote Careline

2011:Two-time Iron Dog champions share the message that suicide is preventable

Iron Dog 2010 and 2011 race champions Chris Olds and Tyler Huntington teamed up with the State of Alaska to create the Life Is a Team Effort campaign to encourage Alaskans to take action to prevent suicide.Order or download campaign materials
[ view all sports cards and other campaign materials ]

During the race, the racers and representatives from the Alaska State Troopers and main Iron Dog sponsor, the National Guard, shared the campaign materials and these messages:

  • Suicide is preventable.
    We know how to foster mental health, which suicide-risk evaluation programs are effective and how to intervene when appropriate.
  • We can all help.
    Alaskans can attend or adopt school- and community-based programs that teach students and community members how to identify signs of depression, how to reach out and how to connect people to help.
  • Need help? Get help.
    “Life is a team effort!” the cards and posters say. Iron Dog racers ride as teams because it makes sense to use the buddy system when covering 2,000 rough, remote miles. All of us hit rough patches in life – if you need help, call Careline at 1-877-266-HELP (4357).

Special thanks to the Department of Health and Social Services for printing the cards and posters, and our partners at the Iron Dog Race.