Here’s what Utah is doing now to address ‘tsunami’ of mental health needs
Utah and the nation are in the midst of two pandemics, and one of them shows no signs of slowing down.
That’s according to the leader of Huntsman Mental Health Institute, the Beehive State’s largest psychiatric treatment and research center.
The state’s crisis hotline, managed by the institute, is receiving more than 11,000 calls each month — more than 350 calls each day. The average length of text conversations between those in distress seeking help on the SafeUT app and counselors has “increased dramatically,” said Dr. Mark Rapaport, CEO of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and chairman of the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry.
