My Best Alaskan Life: A Community-Designed Intervention to Improve Youth/Young Adults' Sexual and Mental Health

This project addresses critical public health disparities among Alaskan youth and young adults by developing and evaluating \"My Best Alaskan Life\" (MBAL), an innovative online tool aimed at improving sexual and mental health literacy and behaviors. By integrating motivational interviewing and the Health Belief Model, MBAL empowers individuals to make informed health decisions, thereby potentially reducing rates of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and associated mental health issues. Long-term, this project aims to enhance overall health outcomes, particularly in underserved multicultural and Indigenous communities, while building local research capacity through undergraduate and graduate student engagement and mentorship.