Finding Mental Health Help (Utah)

The purpose of this project is to help provide direction to those who may be struggling with mental health but be unable to find professional help in the state of Utah. There is no one size fits all solution or resource for this topic, so if you need help, don't be afraid to seek out different options or multiple resources in order to find the best fit.

Thanks to ever evolving technology, many resources can be found and accesses with just a computer or phone with an internet connection and access to a web browser like Google Chrome.

Life threatening situations and emergencies, as well as suicidal thoughts or intentions, should be taken very seriously. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.

If you are considering suicide, call a suicide hotline. The national number is 9-8-8 and many cities and states have local helpline options available 24/7.

Find an adult you trust.

Whether it is a parent, a school counselor, or family friend, having an adult you trust who can help guide and support you through the process of finding help much easier. Every individual has their own unique circumstances and experiences, but everyone can benefit from a little help and support.

This step is not necessary, since many of the resources discussed in the coming steps can be accessed from home, but having someone close to you to confide in or consult with can be very useful.

Thanks to a growing awareness of mental health problems, many states, including Utah, offer a variety of mental health resources to those living in the state. These resources can range from PDFs and digital pamphlets, to resources like The Trevor Project, or other formally organized mental health communities and resources.

Always be careful and safe while searching for resources online. Make sure to do some research before giving out personal information or money.

Identify resources which seem relevant to your situation, and then reach out.

Many groups, like The Trevor Project, offer basic support avenues you can do from the comfort of home such as Live Chat features. However, if you find you would prefer in-person communication, they also offer a variety of resources for getting in touch with in-person help as well.

Look for groups near your home offering group therapy sessions or hosting social events. Groups and events specifically looking to raise awareness for mental health often have connections with other local groups and can help connect you to resources you may not have been able to easily find by just browsing google on your own.

For many people, group therapy or other social support structures can make a huge difference. For some, these resources provide enough relief and support that they never need to move beyond that type of help. However, this is not universal and for many people, further help is needed.

For many people, it may be necessary to find a long term therapist and even obtain medication. While the idea of obtaining professional help of this kind can be intimidating, the quality of life improvements which can come from proper help are staggering.

If you do not already have connections established, it may be worthwhile to reach out to local nonprofit organizations about getting in contact with further professional help. These groups often already work closely with medical and psychiatric professionals, and may be able to put you directly in touch with the help you need.

Due to the highly individualistic nature of mental health conditions, it can seem difficult to find the right type of mental health help. If you have medical insurance, or if you are still under a family medical insurance plan, it may be worthwhile to see if there are any preapproved mental health or institutions where you can get help with help from insurance.

In Utah, Medicaid members can be approved to receive a number of mental health assistance benefits, including coverage for evaluations, rehabilitation services and medication services. Reach out to either your insurance provider and the service provider you are looking at to verify details before locking yourself in for any sort of payments for medicine or other services.

No matter what type of help works for you, it is important to do the best you can to take care of yourself.

Listen to the people around you and try to follow advice from medical and psychiatric professionals in particular. While advice is rarely one size fits all, things like trying to have a positive outlook and doing your best to keep yourself healthy and physically taken care of certainly won't make your situation worse.

Be honest with yourself and those around you. If you are trying one method to help yourself and it isn't working, don't be afraid to try something else as well. Just because you get a prescription or a therapist doesn't necessarily mean you'll need it forever or that things won't change and you'll need something else.

Children and young people: Statistics. Mental Health Foundation. (2016). Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/children-young-people-statistics#:~:text=50%25%20of%20mental%20health%20problems,and%2075%25%20by%20age%2024.&text=10%25%20of%20children%20and%20young,at%20a%20sufficiently%20early%20age

Laurel House. (2022, December 28). Interact marketing. Resources To Recover. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.rtor.org/directory/mental-health-resources-in-utah/

NAMI Utah | Programs for Mental Illness. (2022, March 25). Nami Utah: Programs for mental illness - mental health conditions. NAMI Utah | Programs for Mental Illness - Mental Health Conditions. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.namiut.org/resources/mental-health-conditions

Sumnmers, L., Meppen, D., & Ball, S. (2020, July). Utah's mental health system - Kem c. gardner policy institute. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://gardner.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/MentalHealthReportAug2019.pdf?x71849 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, January). Mental illness. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness