White Papers

Utah Mental Health Initiative

Dr. Sam Goldstein

Table of Contents

© 2025 Sam Goldstein. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Executive Summary

Mental health in Utah is at a critical juncture. With over 550,000 adults affected by mental health conditions and a growing population nearing 3.5 million in 2024 (expected to reach 4 million by 2035), the demand for prevention, early intervention, and inpatient care far outpaces current capacity. Utah ranks among the highest states in adult mental illness, youth depression, and suicide ideation. Despite progress, the system remains underfunded, fragmented, and inaccessible for too many.

The statewide mental health infrastructure includes the Utah State Hospital, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, local mental health authorities, crisis hotlines, and Medicaid-funded plans. However, challenges persist: a resident-to-provider ratio of 380:1, critical workforce shortages, long waitlists, and limited inpatient beds, especially in rural and tribal counties.

This report lays out a comprehensive framework to close these gaps. It includes a county-by-county assessment, identifies verified data, and highlights missing information critical to system planning. Recommendations call for a $1.2 billion annual investment, workforce expansion, telehealth scale-up, crisis system growth, and universal access to prevention services. With coordinated implementation, Utah can deliver equitable, modern mental health care to every resident by 2035.

Current Context and Needs

Utah's population growth, from 3.5 million in 2024 to a projected 4 million in 2035, compounds an already serious mental health crisis. As of 2023, 23.7% of adults reported at least seven days of poor mental health monthly. Roughly 550,000 adults have a diagnosable condition, and 139,000 suffer from serious mental illness (SMI). Utah ranks high in national comparisons for mental illness and suicidal thoughts.

Among youth, over 60% of children ages 6–11 with mental health conditions do not receive treatment. Utahns live in federally designated mental health shortage areas.

Stigma, workforce limitations, and system fragmentation contribute to delayed treatment and chronic care needs. The situation demands a unified, tiered, and scalable response to prevent worsening health, economic, and social outcomes.

Based on recent US prevalence estimates from reliable sources such as the CDC, NIMH, and peer-reviewed scholarly data (2020–2025), here are the approximate numbers of individuals affected by common mental health conditions in a population of 3.5 million:

Condition Prevalence Estimated People Affected
Depression 8.3% 290,500
Anxiety Disorders 19.1% 668,500
ADHD 4.4% 154,000
PTSD 3.6% 126,000
Autism Spectrum Disorder 2.3% 80,500
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) 3.3% 115,500
Conduct Disorder 2.1% 73,500
Complicated Grief Disorder 7.0% 245,000

These numbers are approximations and may vary based on demographics, reporting methods, and population age structure (e.g., autism and ODD are more prevalent among children).

Utah Resources and Verified Specific Data

Utah's mental health system includes key institutions, funding mechanisms, and crisis services, but it remains unevenly distributed and under-resourced for the current and projected population.

Core Infrastructure

  • Utah State Hospital (Provo): 306 total beds (152 civil, 154 forensic); serves individuals with severe mental illness. Capacity remains limited.
  • Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI): Academic medical center with adult and child inpatient units (ages 4–17), 24/7 crisis center, and integration with research and clinical training.
  • Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs): Operate in all 29 counties, contracting with networks of local providers (e.g., Salt Lake County manages 120+ providers).
  • Medicaid Mental Health Plans: Delivered through Prepaid Mental Health Plans (PMHPs); mental health spending is embedded in Medicaid's $5.346 billion FY24 budget.
  • 988 Crisis Line & Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOTs): Available statewide 24/7, but services vary by county.
  • Community & School-Based Programs: Present but inconsistently funded and implemented across regions.

These resources form a base, but fall short of full population coverage or timely access.

Verified Data Snapshot (2023–2025)

Population & Mental Health Prevalence:

  • 2024 population: 3,506,838 (Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute).
  • Adults with mental health conditions: ~550,000; with serious mental illness: ~139,000 (NAMI).
  • 23.7% of adults report poor mental health ≥7 days/month (Utah Department of Health IBIS-PH).
  • Projected population growth: +500,000 by 2035 (~1.5% annual) (Kem C. Gardner).

Access & Workforce:

  • Provider-to-population ratio: ~380:1 (County Health Rankings).
  • ~2.7 million residents live in underserved mental health professional shortage areas (NAMI).
  • Youth treatment gap: Over 60% of children aged 6–11 with mental health conditions receive no treatment (Deseret News, May 2025).

Facilities & Capacity Gaps:

  • Utah falls short of the recommended 50 inpatient psychiatric beds per 100,000 residents (Treatment Advocacy Center).
  • Many counties lack any residential or crisis stabilization units (Salt Lake Tribune Behavioral Health Infrastructure Report).

Funding & Budget:

  • Public mental health agency budget (FY23): $332.7 million (SAMHSA).
  • Medicaid total (FY24): $5.346 billion (includes mental health) (Utah Legislature).
  • Crisis response funding (2021): $17.8 million to Statewide Behavioral Health Crisis Response Account.

System Planning Benchmarks:

  • Estimated annual system cost: $1.2 billion, or ~$343 per capita.
  • Workforce target: 300 psychiatrists, 1,000+ therapists/psychologists, 1,200 social workers, 200 mobile crisis staff statewide.

Current and Future System Requirements

To meet needs across prevention, intervention, and severe care, Utah requires a fully built-out mental health ecosystem:

A. Prevention / Universal & At-Risk Services

  • Embed full-time mental health counselors in every K–12 school district.
  • Create county-based prevention hubs for outreach, screening, and resilience training.
  • Deliver public campaigns addressing stigma, suicide prevention, and mental health literacy.
  • Expand broadband and telehealth access statewide, including bilingual and culturally tailored programs for tribal communities.

B. Early Intervention / Outpatient & Day-Treatment Services

  • Expand outpatient mental health clinics and establish child/adolescent tracks.
  • Create intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization options.
  • Deploy mobile outreach and peer support teams in underserved regions.
  • Improve access to telepsychiatry and integrate mental health into primary care.

C. Tertiary / Inpatient & Severe-Case Care

  • Add at least 500 inpatient beds across Utah.
  • Expand forensic psychiatry and long-term residential care.
  • Build regional psychiatric units for children and adults with dual diagnosis.
  • Establish transitional housing and supported care post-discharge.

D. Workforce and Infrastructure

  • Recruit and retain at least 300 new licensed professionals.
  • Invest in rural placement incentives, residency/fellowship programs, and loan forgiveness.
  • Modernize clinics, create modular mobile care units, and expand telehealth capacity.
  • Develop centralized data systems to track access, outcomes, and performance.

E. Funding and Sustainability

  • Increase total annual budget to ~$1.2 billion (from $332.7 million today).
  • Create a mental health trust fund to stabilize prevention and early intervention funding.
  • Ensure Medicaid alignment and leverage federal and philanthropic dollars.

F. Rural, Tribal, and Underserved Community Focus

  • Adopt a hub-and-spoke service model anchored by regional centers.
  • Prioritize tribal partnerships and culturally appropriate care in San Juan, Uintah, and other tribal counties.
  • Ensure telehealth parity and broadband expansion.

Summary: What We Have and What We Need

Tier Existing Strengths Key Additions Needed
Prevention/Primary State directories, LMHAs, some school programs Universal school counselors, county prevention hubs, outreach in rural/at-risk, robust screening
Early Intervention/Outpatient Outpatient clinics in many counties, LMHA networks, Medicaid coverage Large scale outpatient expansion, IOP/day-treatment, child/adolescent services, tech/telehealth scale
Tertiary/Severe Care State hospital, academic hospital programs, crisis centers Hundreds more inpatient/residential beds across the state, step-down/long-term care, forensic capacity, integrated care
Workforce & Infrastructure Existing clinics/hospitals, crisis lines, LMHA networks Large workforce expansion, facility build/renovation, telehealth platform, data systems
Funding & Equity Some funding streams, county systems Increased budget to ~$1 billion+ annually, dedicated fund for prevention, rural/tribal equity focus

Data Gaps

  • No public breakdown of inpatient/residential capacity by county.
  • No full directory of outpatient clinics, IOPs, or mobile crisis teams.
  • No complete cost accounting for Utah's mental health system across all payers.
  • No compiled county-level workforce data (psychiatrists, therapists).

Full 29-County Data and Strategic Priorities

County Population (2024) Est. Annual Budget Service Priorities
Beaver 7,200 $2.5M Mobile mental health outreach, telepsychiatry, small outpatient clinic
Box Elder 60,700 $20.8M Expand Brigham City outpatient center, school counselors, regional inpatient beds
Cache 145,500 $50M Logan hub, telehealth rural expansion, 25+ inpatient/step-down beds
Carbon 20,200 $6.9M Crisis unit, school mental health, partner with Castleview Hospital
Daggett 1,100 $0.4M Telehealth via Uintah Basin Medical, prevention-focused outreach
Davis 378,500 $130M Youth prevention, 60 new beds, outpatient and IOP capacity
Duchesne 21,300 $7.3M Mobile outreach, crisis stabilization for tribal/rural populations
Emery 10,200 $3.5M Shared telehealth psychiatry, school programs, residential beds
Garfield 5,200 $1.8M Rural school services, regional telehealth and crisis team
Grand 10,700 $3.7M Moab-based outpatient center, tourism-related prevention
Iron 66,000 $22.6M Cedar City hub, 30 new beds, university-based services expansion
Juab 13,900 $4.8M Telehealth access, school and community-based services
Kane 8,100 $2.8M Shared psychiatrist, mobile and telehealth infrastructure
Millard 13,800 $4.7M Fillmore clinic, rural mobile teams, residential care
Morgan 12,600 $4.3M School-based mental health, linked to Weber County hub
Piute 1,500 $0.5M Telehealth-only model, itinerant care
Rich 2,700 $0.9M Suicide prevention, virtual care access
Salt Lake 1,232,700 $422M Full crisis network, 200 inpatient beds, outreach in urban underserved areas
San Juan 14,600 $5M Tribal and indigenous partnerships, local residential care, telepsychiatry
Sanpete 33,600 $11.5M Ephraim clinic, mobile crisis, school/university programming
Sevier 23,100 $7.9M Richfield hub, rural linkages, housing for chronic SMI
Summit 44,000 $15.1M Park City hub, bilingual services, seasonal workforce support
Tooele 83,800 $28.7M Outpatient, crisis stabilization, Salt Lake referral links
Uintah 38,300 $13.1M Vernal-based services, tribal programs, inpatient beds
Utah 747,200 $256M 100+ beds, outpatient expansion, youth and family programs
Wasatch 39,000 $13.4M Heber City clinic, suicide prevention, telehealth scale-up
Washington 206,700 $71M St. George regional hospital, IOPs, 50+ beds
Wayne 2,600 $0.9M Telehealth/mobile teams quarterly, integrated with public health
Weber 275,500 $95M Ogden crisis and outpaSent center, jail diversion, Community mobile crisis teams

Examples of Breakdown by County

Salt Lake County (~1,232,666 population)

Capacity/Facilities Target:

  • Prevention: School-based mental health teams in all districts (≈ 1 counselor per ~500 students).
  • Outpatient: Expand network of outpatient MH clinics (child/adult) to serve roughly 230,000+ persons (assuming ~23% prevalence).
  • Inpatient/Residential: Increase bed capacity for severe cases (e.g., additional ~150-200 beds).

Personnel: Large workforce: ~60–80 psychiatrists, 200+ therapists/psychologists, mobile crisis teams city-wide.

Budget allocation (proportional): If state per-capita ~$343/year, this county's share ~$422 million/year (1.232m × $343).

Key focus: Urban/rural mix (mostly urban), high density, diverse demographics—emphasis on telehealth for underserved urban pockets, school-based screening.

Utah County (~747,234 population)

Capacity/Facilities Target:

  • Prevention: School programs in growing districts, parent/child outreach especially in rapidly growing areas.
  • Outpatient: Clinics in Provo/Orem and satellite rural sites. Serve ~170,000 persons estimated needing some services.
  • Inpatient/Residential: Add ~100 beds regionally; supported housing for chronic SMI.

Personnel: ~35–50 psychiatrists, ~120 therapists, mobile crisis units that cover expanding suburbs.

Budget allocation: ~$256 million/year (0.747m × $343).

Key focus: Rapid growth county → need to scale services early; integrate new housing developments, ensure transit to clinics.

Davis County (~378,470 population)

Capacity/Facilities Target:

  • Prevention: School- and community-based hubs, especially for families in suburban settings.
  • Outpatient: Serve ~85,000 persons; upgrade 1–2 clinics, expand telehealth.
  • Inpatient/Residential: Add perhaps ~40-60 beds; regional rural outreach.

Personnel: ~20 psychiatrists, ~60 therapists, integrate with primary care clinics.

Budget allocation: ~$130 million/year.

Key focus: Suburban-county, high proportion of youth; early intervention in schools is critical.

Cache County (~145,487 population)

Capacity/Facilities Target:

  • Prevention: School-based teams in Logan & county towns; community hub in Logan region.
  • Outpatient: One major outpatient facility + telehealth for surrounding rural towns; serve ~33,000 persons.
  • Inpatient/Residential: Smaller scale (~20-30 beds) with referral link to larger regional centers.

Personnel: ~8–12 psychiatrists, ~25 therapists, mobile unit for remote/rural pockets.

Budget allocation: ~$50 million/year.

Key focus: More rural/moderate density; telehealth and mobile crisis teams important for access.

San Juan County (~14,601 population)

Capacity/Facilities Target:

  • Prevention: Community outreach programs in small towns; school counseling as primary base.
  • Outpatient: A small clinic (or rotating mobile/telehealth model) covering the county; serve ~3,000 persons.
  • Inpatient/Residential: Likely need referral agreements with larger counties; local step-down/residential ≈10–15 beds.

Personnel: ~1–2 psychiatrists (via tele-psychiatry), ~5 therapists, regional mobile crisis link.

Budget allocation: ~$5 million/year.

Key focus: Very rural, low density, limited infrastructure—telehealth and outreach vital, partnerships with larger systems necessary.

Funding Framework and Cost Projections

Total System Cost: $1.2 billion/year

  • Prevention / Primary: $240M (20%)
  • Early Intervention / Secondary: $480M (40%)
  • Tertiary / Severe Care: $480M (40%)

Supports:

  • 300+ psychiatrists
  • 1,000+ therapists/psychologists
  • 1,200 case managers/social workers
  • 200 mobile crisis staff
  • 500+ new inpatient/residential beds
  • 29 county outpatient hubs
  • Statewide telehealth infrastructure

10-Year Implementation Roadmap

Years 1–2

  • Statewide mental health task force formed
  • Begin school-based mental health expansion
  • Launch telehealth platform buildout
  • Begin facility planning for new inpatient beds
  • Workforce recruitment initiatives

Years 3–5

  • County outpatient hubs operational statewide
  • Inpatient and crisis beds added regionally
  • Medicaid alignment with prevention goals
  • Begin forensic unit expansion and long-term housing

Years 6–10

  • Universal screening and care access benchmarks met
  • All rural/tribal areas served with outreach or local clinics
  • Mobile crisis fleet fully deployed
  • Integrated outcome monitoring dashboard launched

Performance Metrics and System Monitoring

  • % of population screened annually
  • Access time to outpatient services (<14 days goal)
  • Crisis response time
  • Psychiatrist/therapist per capita ratios
  • Inpatient readmission reduction (target 10%+)
  • Youth access to care rates
  • Data dashboard usage
  • Provider retention and geographic distribution

Law Enforcement Calls and On-Scene Mental Health Response

Current Data and Context:

Utah law enforcement increasingly responds to mental health and domestic-related crises. In 2021, Utah received ~1.15 million emergency calls (911.gov), and national data indicate that 20–30% of police calls involve mental health, substance use, or domestic issues (Vera Institute of Justice; U.S. DOJ COPS Office). That translates to 230,000–345,000 annual calls—about one behavioral or domestic crisis for every 10–15 residents. Officers often face these situations without clinical backup, creating safety risks, emotional strain, and costly overreliance on emergency or correctional systems. With Utah's severe 380:1 provider-to-population ratio, this pressure continues to grow.

Real-Time Crisis Mental Health Support for Officers:

To improve outcomes and relieve system strain, Utah should launch a Crisis Co-Response and Tele-Mental Health Support Network, integrated within its $1.2 billion statewide mental health framework.

Core Components:

  • Co-Response Units: Embed clinicians and peer specialists with police/EMS in major counties (Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber, Washington). These teams provide on-site de-escalation and referral, cutting arrests and hospital transports by up to 50% in national models.
  • Tele-Mental Health Command Console (TMH-CC): A 24/7 secure platform linking officers to on-call clinicians via tablet or in-vehicle system for real-time stabilization and referral. Integrated with 988 and MCOTs (Mobile Crisis Outreach).
  • Officer Wellness & Peer Line: Confidential counseling and resilience support for first responders, accessible through TMH-CC.
  • Training & Certification: Require statewide CIT certification within five years, with trauma-informed and cultural competency modules through HMHI and LMHAs.

Implementation and Cost:

Phase Timeline Key Deliverables Est. Annual Cost
1 2026–2027 5 county pilots, TMH-CC launch $25M
2 2028–2030 Statewide rollout, wellness expansion $45M
3 2031+ Full integration and data dashboard $60M

Funding can draw from the Behavioral Health Trust and Social Impact Bonds, linking private investment to measurable reductions in repeat 911 calls and ER use.

Anticipated Outcomes:

  • 20–30% less officer time on repeat crisis calls
  • 25% fewer hospitalizations/jail bookings for mental health incidents
  • Improved officer safety and retention
  • More individuals diverted to treatment instead of incarceration

Strategic Integration:

This critical part of the initiative directly advances Utah's 10-year mental health roadmap, bridging public safety and behavioral health systems. Combined with county prevention hubs, MCOTs, and telehealth expansion, it forms a "whole-community crisis response system." Real-time clinical support transforms 911 from a law enforcement endpoint into a therapeutic entry point—protecting both Utah's communities and the officers who serve them.

Potential Revenue Streams to Quadruple Available Funds

Utah Behavioral Health Trust & Social Impact Bonds (SIBs)

Create a Utah Behavioral Health Trust Fund, a permanent endowment-like account jointly funded by state appropriations, private donors, and performance-based "social impact" investors.

How it works:

  • State seed funding: Legislature allocates an initial ~$200 million (similar to Utah's Homelessness Trust Fund model).
  • Social Impact Bonds: Private investors fund prevention and early-intervention programs (e.g., school-based counseling, crisis stabilization).
    • Returns are paid only if measurable outcomes (like reduced hospitalizations, fewer suicides, or lower incarceration rates) are achieved.
    • Example: NYC and Massachusetts SIBs reduced recidivism and saved millions in healthcare costs.
  • Investment earnings: The trust invests principal, generating ~$10–15 million annually in interest for ongoing program funding.
  • Philanthropic matching: Partner with Huntsman Foundation, Intermountain Health, and Silicon Slopes tech companies for matching contributions.

Potential annual yield:

  • Trust earnings ≈ $15M
  • SIB investor funding ≈ $50M (renewed every 3–5 years)
  • Private matches ≈ $25M

Total: $90 million/year new capital for prevention & early intervention tiers.

Why it works:

  • Reduces burden on taxpayers
  • Appeals to Utah's strong philanthropic culture
  • Links private capital to measurable community impact

Health Care "Parity Dividend" Insurance Surcharge Reinvestment

Utah could pass a small Mental Health Parity Surcharge on health insurance premiums (0.5 – 1.0%), earmarked for state mental health infrastructure.

How it works:

  • Applies to private insurance plans regulated by Utah Insurance Department (not self-funded ERISA).
  • Revenue goes into a dedicated Behavioral Health Infrastructure Fund used to:
    • Expand outpatient clinics & workforce
    • Co-fund crisis centers and telehealth networks
  • Insurers benefit because improved access reduces ER visits and high-cost hospital claims long-term.
  • Could be coupled with federal Medicaid matching funds (≈ 3:1 leverage ratio).

Estimated yield:

Utah's private health insurance market ≈ $7 billion in annual premiums.

  • 0.5% surcharge = $35 million/year
  • 1% surcharge = $70 million/year

With Medicaid matching → ≈ $150 – 200 million annual impact.

Why it works:

  • Low individual cost (< $2/month per policyholder)
  • Creates dedicated, non-general fund revenue stream
  • Reinforces mental-health parity principles

Utah Strong Minds Economic Development & Tourism Reinvestment Fund

Leverage Utah's booming tourism and outdoor recreation industries through a "Strong Minds Utah" Mental Health Impact Fee, a small add-on (e.g., 1%) to hotel, resort, and short-term rental taxes statewide.

How it works:

  • 1% surcharge on lodging revenue (~$2.5 billion × 1%) = $25 million/year
  • Half the revenue funds rural & seasonal workforce mental health programs (e.g., Park City, Moab, St. George).
  • The other half supports community prevention & youth resilience programs statewide.
  • Hotels and ski resorts participate in a "mental wellness tourism" campaign: visitors see Utah as a wellness destination.
  • Tie in corporate partnerships (REI, Patagonia, Visit Utah) to co-sponsor mental health trails, mindfulness events, and awareness campaigns.

Estimated yield: $25 – 40 million/year (depending on tourism performance).

Why it works:

  • Uses Utah's natural economic strengths
  • Creates visible, positive branding ("Utah Strong Minds")
  • Generates stable, low-friction revenue while supporting rural mental health

Summary Combined Fiscal Impact

Funding Stream Estimated Annual Yield Primary Focus Area
Behavioral Health Trust + SIBs $90M Prevention & early intervention
Insurance Parity Dividend $150 – 200M Outpatient & workforce expansion
Tourism/Strong Minds Fee $25 – 40M Rural & community prevention
Total Potential Annual Additions ≈ $265 – 330 million/year Supports the $1.2–1.5B comprehensive goal

Risks, Challenges, and Mitigation Strategies

  • Workforce Shortage → Loan repayment, rural incentive programs
  • Facility Development Delays → Modular units, partnerships
  • Budget Volatility → Mental health trust fund, incremental growth model
  • Rural Access Gaps → Telehealth, hub-and-spoke deployment
  • Stigma & Cultural Barriers → Education, bilingual outreach

Closing Summary

Utah stands at a decisive crossroads in the future of its mental health system. This report has presented a comprehensive, data-informed vision for a statewide transformation, rooted in prevention, early intervention, and equitable access to care. With over half a million adults experiencing mental health conditions and significant service gaps across youth, rural, and tribal communities, the urgency for action is clear. While foundational systems exist, from the Utah State Hospital and Huntsman Mental Health Institute to local authorities and school-based initiatives, the current infrastructure is insufficient, unevenly distributed, and under-resourced.

A fully functional mental health ecosystem in Utah must be proactive, inclusive, and responsive to the state's growing population. By 2035, Utah will be home to nearly 4 million residents, and without significant investment, current capacity shortfalls will only deepen. The roadmap outlined here calls for an annual investment of $1.2 billion to scale up prevention hubs, outpatient clinics, mobile crisis units, inpatient beds, and telehealth access. It also emphasizes workforce development, data transparency, and culturally competent care, particularly for tribal nations and underserved counties.

Central to this effort is the integration of services across sectors: education, health, criminal justice, and housing. Embedding mental health counselors in every school district, launching universal screening programs, and expanding transition services for individuals post-hospitalization are not just goals, they are imperatives for a functional, humane system.

This report does not claim to have solved all questions. It acknowledges persistent data gaps in areas such as provider availability, facility distribution, and cost transparency. Yet, it provides a clear starting point, an actionable framework, and county-level guidance for implementation over the next decade.

To succeed, Utah must approach this transformation as a collective, bipartisan commitment supported by public investment, private partnership, and community engagement. The opportunity before us is to redefine mental health care not as a crisis response, but as an integrated pillar of community well-being and public health. The tools, knowledge, and momentum exist. With strategic leadership and sustainable funding, Utah can become a national model in mental health equity by 2035.

Appendix: Citations

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Mental health surveillance among children — United States, 2013–2019. MMWR Supplements, 71(2). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7102a1.htm

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2021). Mental health provider ratio. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/explore-health-rankings

Deseret News. (2025). Behavioral health master plan and youth gaps report. https://www.deseret.com/

Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. (2025). Utah population estimate report. University of Utah. https://gardner.utah.edu/

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023). Utah state fact sheet. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/UtahStateFactSheet.pdf

National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Mental illness statistics. https://www.nimh.nih.gov

Ringeisen, H., Stambaugh, L. F., & Khoury, D. (2020). The epidemiology of childhood emotional and behavioral disorders. In T. Farmer, M. Conroy, E. Farmer, & K. Sutherland (Eds.), Handbook of research on emotional and behavioral disorders: Interdisciplinary developmental perspectives on children and youth (pp. 111–124). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429453106-2

Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Charman, T., Chandler, S., Loucas, T., & Baird, G. (2008). Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(8), 921–929. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e318179964f

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Uniform Reporting System (URS) output tables – Utah. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-uniform-reporting-system-urs-table-utah

The Salt Lake Tribune. (2025). Utah hospital infrastructure and bed shortage analysis. https://www.sltrib.com/

Treatment Advocacy Center. (2023). Overlooked and undercounted: The role of serious mental illness in police encounters. https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/

Treatment Advocacy Center. (2023). State psychiatric bed counts. https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (2015). Police response to persons with mental illnesses: A guide to research-informed policy and practice. https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-w0969-pub.pdf

Utah Department of Health. (2023). IBIS-PH query system: Mental health indicators. Utah Department of Health and Human Services. https://ibis.utah.gov/

Utah Legislature. (2024). FY24 Medicaid budget overview. https://le.utah.gov/

Utah Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst. (2021). Finding hope: Behavioral health investments. https://le.utah.gov/interim/2021/pdf/00000865.pdf

Utah Population Committee & Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. (2025). Population estimate report. The University of Utah. https://gardner.utah.edu/

Utah State Hospital. (2023). Treatment programs overview. https://ush.utah.gov/

Vera Institute of Justice. (2021). We need to think beyond police in mental health crises. https://www.vera.org/news/we-need-to-think-beyond-police-in-mental-health-crises