Mental Health

•  Utah mental health training for school nurses (Canvas)
• School nurse training: Identifying mental health issues in students

Past webinars

• Supporting students with anxiety (2019)

School-based mental health staff roles and responsibilities in the education setting: A Utah State Board of Education technical assistance document

Mental health and suicide prevention resources

Utah-specific resources

1. SafeUT

   • App: Download for free on iOS and Android.
   • Crisis line: Call 833-372-3388.
   • Services: Confidential 24/7 crisis support and anonymous tips.
   • Learn more: SafeUT

2. 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline (formerly Utah crisis line)

   • Phone: Dial 988.
   • Services: Free, confidential 24/7 crisis support.
   • Learn more: 988lifeline.org

3. Mobile crisis outreach teams (MCOT)

   • Focus: In-person crisis intervention dispatched through 988.

4. Utah warm line

   • Phone: 801-587-1055
   • Services: Peer-to-peer emotional support for people who may not be in crisis but would like to speak to someone to talk to about their mental health daily 8 AM–11 PM.

5. Live On Utah

   • Focus: Statewide suicide prevention campaign with tools and resources.
   • Learn more: Live On Utah

6. NAMI Utah (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

   • Services: Support groups, classes, and resources for mental health.
   • Learn more: NAMI Utah
7. Sexual violence crisis line: Statewide sexual assault helpline. The helpline is a free resource that connects callers to resources and helps them take the next steps. Victim advocates can answer questions for survivors, loved ones, professionals, and community members. 
   • English statewide help: 801-736-4356
   • Línea de ayuda de habla hispana contra la agresión sexual: 801-924-0860.

National resources

1. 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline

   • Phone: Dial 988 for free, confidential support 24/7.
   • Learn more: 988lifeline.org

2. Crisis text line 

3. Text: Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 crisis support via text.

4. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

   • Helpline: Dial 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) for support.
   • Learn more: NAMI

LGBTQ-specific resources

1. The Trevor Project

   • Focus: Crisis support and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.
   • Phone: 1-866-488-7386
   • Text: Text START to 678678
   • Chat: Available 24/7 at The Trevor Project

2. Trans Lifeline

   • Focus: Support for transgender individuals, run by trans peers.
   • Phone: 877-565-8860
   • Learn more: Trans Lifeline

3. GLBT National Help Center

   • Services: Peer-support via phone and chat for LGBTQ individuals.
   • Phone: 1-888-843-4564
   • Learn more: GLBT National Help Center

4. Live On Utah—LGBTQ focus

   • Focus: Resources for LGBTQ youth and adults in Utah.
   • Learn more: Live On Utah LGBTQ resources

Additional resources

• StopBullying.gov: Bullying prevention resource
• Domestic Violence Hotline: Confidential support and resources, thehotline.org

Suicide is complex, with many different factors contributing to an individual’s risk of suicide.

Suicide often does not have one direct cause and youth who attempt or die by suicide often have a mix of risk and protective factors in their life. The factors below have been identified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as contributing to suicide risk. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

Risk Factors

• Individual factors, such as:
  • Previous suicide attempts
  • Mental health conditions, such as depression
  • Social isolation
  • Substance use

• Relationship factors, such as:
  • Adverse childhood experiences
  • Bullying
  • Family history of suicide
  • Family or peer conflict

• Community and Societal factors, such as:
  • Barriers to health care
  • Stigma associated with mental health or help-seeking
  • Access to lethal means
  • Unsafe media portrayals of suicide
  • Systemic trauma or marginalizing experiences based on socioeconomic factors, race/ethnicity or gender/sexual identity

Protective Factors

• Coping and problem-solving skills
• Connections to family, friends, and community
• Supportive relationships with caregivers
• Access to health care
• Limited access to lethal means

Warning Signs

Most youth who die by suicide show some warning signs and behavior changes. It is important to note that not all youth who are at risk of suicide will show these warning signs, and not all youth who exhibit these behaviors are at risk for suicide. Common warning signs include, but are not limited to:

• Talking about killing oneself, feeling hopeless, feeling like a burden, or having no reason to live
• Mood changes, including depression, anxiety, and agitation
• Behavior changes:
  • Increased substance use
  • Withdrawing from activities
  • Isolating from family and friends
  • Sleeping too much or not enough
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Irritability

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics 

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA): Guides on how to recognize and manage anxiety symptoms.
• Child Mind Institute: Free resources for how to help children cope with anxiety.
• Calm Appfor Schools: Mindfulness resources for educators and students.

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Educational tools and symptom checklists.
• The Jed Foundation (JED): Resources to promote emotional health and resilience.

• CHADD.org (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): Provides webinars, training, and resources for parents, educators, and healthcare providers.
• Understood.org: Focuses on helping children with ADHD and learning differences thrive in school and life.
• ADHD Dude (parent-focused): Offers courses and practical strategies to manage ADHD in school and at home.
• Classroom tools for ADHD: Tools like GoNoodle (movement breaks) and Time Timer (visual timers) to support focus and self-regulation.

• Mental Health First Aid: Training for how to recognize and respond to mental health needs.
• CASEL SEL Playbooks: Guides and strategies for social-emotional learning in schools.
• Edutopia: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Articles and videos on how to integrate social emotional learning into classrooms to address mental health proactively.