Say yes to a healthier Juneau

Downtown Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Kiel Renick

At 29.8 deaths per 100,000 residents annually, Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the nation. At 45.1 deaths per 100,000, we trail only West Virginia for the highest overdose mortality rate. The 49th state ranks 48th in the amount of lifetime experienced domestic violence. In many ways, for many reasons, we struggle to be mentally healthy. Short days, seemingly relentless precipitation, cold temperatures, and geographic isolation are vulnerability factors for mental health problems. We all know this painful story.

A related story many people don’t know is that of Rat Park, a series of studies conducted by psychologist Bruce Alexander in the 1970s. In the simplest telling, Alexander and his colleagues observed that rats living in austere cages devoid of socialization and stimulation quickly became addicted to available supplies of morphine. By contrast, rats placed in environmentally enriched cages that included balls, wheels, and ample space for socialization showed far less inclination toward addiction. 

Rat Park clearly illustrated the devastating effects that an absence of meaningful opportunities can have on mammalian brains, like our own — as well as the tremendous benefits that can result when chances for recreation and socialization are readily available. In my own doctoral research I found a similar story: skiing programs for veterans living with disabilities resulted in a significant decrease in their PTSD symptoms. A large body of research yields consistent results: study after study shows that access to nature, camaraderie, and play positively impact mental health.   

Community spaces and activities are where we discover and develop ourselves, our resilience, and our psychological well-being. Anyone who has played on an intramural team at the field house, joined an open skate at Treadwell Arena, or participated in aqua aerobics at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center, knows how important community activities are for finding purpose and getting out of bed on dark, damp mornings. Those of us familiar with Eaglecrest-based community programs like ORCA, which provides ski lessons to people experiencing disabilities, and Books 2 Boards, which brings middle school students to the mountain at no cost, understand what a powerful difference public recreation can make during the cold winter months. 

I work as a clinician at a clinic here in town, supporting people experiencing substance use and mental health challenges. While providers in offices are integral to treating illness and supporting prevention and recovery, research shows unequivocally that well-being is most widely and sustainably cultivated outside of clinics and hospitals. While I may spend one impactful hour a week with a client, another 167 hours of the week converge to create their wellness profile. Cause and effect play out — access to healthy activities and spaces brings about more positive outcomes. Places, programs, people and purpose are the fertile grounds for vitality, the material from which good lives have the best chance of growing. Here in Juneau, with our extreme weather and dark winters, environmental enrichment is even more crucial. After decades of research and real-life experimentation, we know how to create the conditions to best foster mental well-being — it just takes the will and the resources.

Fortunately Juneau has the resources. We have more millionaires than almost any other small city in America, and a uniquely robust middle class due to stable jobs in government, construction, mining, and healthcare. According to the McKinley Research Group, our tourism industry generated $490 million in total spending in 2023. The money exists to build a healthy humanscape in Juneau. Taxes are the socioeconomic tool to collect that money and dedicate it for community benefit. The average sales tax nationwide is 7.53%, and the mill rates in Anchorage and Fairbanks are approximately 15.57 and 17.1, respectively. Therefore, the proposed CBJ ballot measures that would continue the temporary 3% sales tax in place since 1983, apply a 1% seasonal sales tax rate, and reset the mill rate cap to 12 are entirely reasonable and often less by comparison. 

Of course, I don’t like the idea of paying any increase in taxes, and I don’t like irresponsible or inefficient government functioning. No one does. Yes, if these propositions pass I will have to slightly adjust my budget. Yes, I have been sorely disappointed by some of Juneau’s fiscal decisions, and I desperately want our civil servants to learn from and improve upon our past mistakes. Such is the imperfect but worthwhile process of government by the people. Unfortunately, opponents to these taxes haven’t put forth viable alternatives for how to sustain Juneau’s programs and services – criticizing past CBJ decision-making and saving money for the most-resourced sectors of Juneau (homeowners, businesses, and the biggest spenders) doesn’t constitute a plan for the future of our community.

Thankfully we still live in a functioning democracy — we can decide together to act in support of our city’s well-being. Voting in favor of Propositions A, B, and C will generate needed revenue to continue making Juneau a healthier and happier place to live. And while we’re talking about mental health and financial responsibility, a healthy community is a financially strong community. Depression and addiction are two top causes of time out of work — US productivity loss due to substance use was estimated at $92.65 billion in 2023; nationwide productivity costs due to depression in 2019 were estimated at $81.7 billion. Putting money toward a healthy community now saves us from having to spend money on social challenges later. So whether you vote “yes” compassionately to build a healthier Juneau today, or prudently to save on fixing a less healthy Juneau tomorrow, support for Propositions A, B, and C moves us forward in the endeavor of improving community well-being in this special place we call home.

• Kiel Renick is a licensed clinical psychologist who has lived in Juneau for more than 10 years.