This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah and youth suicide have a sad, dark relationship. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Utah's suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national rate and is now the 8th leading cause of death, says the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. This highlights that improving mental health is just as important to Utah's youth as physical health.
It's time to accept that we're in trouble, crush the stigma and put our young people's well-being at the forefront of health policy. It's time to change the conversation about how we view mental health and how we create access to services. There are awareness and prevention programs and when they don't work we talk about the tragedies; we look for a root cause, an explanation. But what are we doing about it and is it working?
Utah's high rate of suicide, especially in children and young adults, is a cry for Utah policymakers' attention. While the state has health policies requiring suicide prevention programs, they aren't enough. For example, the Utah Legislature recently passed House Bill 154, which provides the requirements for prevention programs including funding. But this alone has not driven the needed change.
In order to make a difference in suicide rates we need all stakeholders to be a part of changing the conversation. Our prevention programs need to get louder, we need to get louder. We need to bring awareness to our communities, showing that mental health matters. Expansion of prevention programs and early intervention should be the number one priority in forming policy. Health policy makers need to put focus on mental health and support advocacy group initiatives through more effective mental health related policy. We need to insist that our health policies represent our true needs: mental health resources for our youth.
In addition, we need to put the resources where they are needed: in our schools, and most importantly, in our communities in places where young people have access. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost one in five young people struggle with mental health; however, fewer than 20 percent receive services. Our schools need to be better prepared to deal with mental health; we need to put more resources directly there. In fact, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that youth who participate in school health services had improved grades and an increase in literacy scores. This can positively influence mental health, which in turn lowers the risk for suicide.
Taking it a step further beyond the school, youth who attended religious services/activities and those who ate meals with their family were considered lower risk as well according to Utah's Public Health Data Resource. These initiatives support young people's mental well-being and can be used as ways to challenge negative stigmas surrounding mental health.
Unfortunately, suicide is still generally met with silence and shame; it is critical that we challenge this silence. It is our responsibility to create communities in which individuals feel safe and supported. We need to break down the stigma that prevents intervention. We need to focus on creating a presence, a presence that shouts we care about our youth, not only their physical health but their mental well-being as well. The focus needs to be on access, positive social norms and supportive networks. Of all the things that plague young people today, let's not let suicide be one of them!
Jennifer Webb, Riverton, is a graduate student at The George Washington University, currently pursuing a master of health sciences. Jennifer has worked in the health care industry for the last nine years as a quality auditor and regulatory specialist, and has a specific interest in changing the stigma surrounding mental health.