In Utah, suicide is the leading cause of death for those between 10 and 24. We are among the states with the highest rates of youth mental health disorders, and we have the highest prevalence of youth with untreated mental health needs.
There’s also a stigma that impacts our youth’s ability to speak freely about mental health. In fact, more than half of Utah children aged 3 to 17 who have a mental or behavioral health condition don’t receive treatment, The Tribune reported recently.
Amid this crisis, young Utahns are finding creative ways to save lives through connection, community, conversation and more.
Several of these young leaders — some joined by a parent or trusted advisor — spoke with The Tribune about the work they do, why they do it and their advice for other young Utahns looking to get involved in mental health work. They also shared their story in their own words, via a format they all know well: social media. To protect their privacy, participants under 18 are identified only by their first names.
Beginning today, I’ll post two interviews a week for the next few weeks. I’ll update this page, but you can also find them here.
These stories feature real-life Utahns who speak candidly about the challenges and impacts of confronting their mental health, as well as their peers’. They also feature solutions. I encourage you to read and share them with young Utahns in your life who might feel self-conscious about their journey with mental health or who are looking to help their peers.
This project fits into a larger goal of The Tribune to engage with and amplify younger Utahns’ voices. I’m grateful to The Solutions Journalism Network for its support and to the young leaders who bravely shared their stories.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.
