SALT LAKE CITY — On Thursday, suicide prevention advocates gathered in Utah’s Capitol to seek lawmakers’ commitments to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health services for Utah State Capitol Day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and the ninth leading cause of death in Utah in 2020. According to the 2021 provisional data from the CDC, 47,646 people died by suicide, up 3.6% from 45,979 in 2020.
Advocates from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation’s largest suicide prevention organization in the United States, met with lawmakers to urge them to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health initiatives for Utah residents.
Topics included 2023’s HB 66, to increase access to behavioral crisis services; HB 228, to ban conversion therapy for Utah’s youth, and HB 248, to increase access to adult mental health services, including Assertive Community Treatment Teams.
“As volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, many of us have lived with mental health conditions and with suicide attempts or loss,” Tori Yeates, the advocacy and public policy committee chair and board member from the foundation’s Utah chapter said. “As advocates, we have the unique and valued opportunity to share our stories directly with the men and women we’ve elected to represent us in Utah. Our personal stories are the most meaningful tool we have. As an advocate, one person truly can have a direct impact on public policy, legislation and fiscal priorities.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Utah State Capitol Day is a meaningful day for those advocating for change who have a connection with, or a personal story on, the topic of suicide. Advocates meet with their public officials to make the case for policy changes backed by research. The goal of these conversations is to help lawmakers understand that investments in mental health and suicide prevention can and do save lives.
Advocates with the organization’s Utah Chapter are part of a larger national movement of thousands of volunteer advocates who will visit state capitals across the United States in spring 2023.
In 2020, 73.1% of the United States did not have enough mental health providers to serve residents, according to federal guidelines. Among adults with a diagnosed mental health condition, 43.8% did not receive mental health services in 2021. In 2022, the foundation conducted a Harris Poll in which more than half of respondents said that not knowing how to get help keeps people from seeking it, and only one in three people say they can identify the warning signs.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advocates will raise awareness of the state actions, resources, and investments needed to support the thousands of Utah residents affected by suicide and mental health conditions each year.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. This year, the foundation recognizes 35 years of service to the cause. It creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide.
Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C. the foundation has local chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with programs and events nationwide.
To learn more about the organization’s advocacy efforts, visit its website.
For more information about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following the organization on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
If you or someone you know is in danger because of suicidal thoughts or actions, call 911 immediately. Suicide is an emergency that requires help by trained medical professionals and should always be treated seriously.
Nationwide suicide hotlines, 988, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (8255), have counselors available 24/7. The Southwest Behavioral Health Center also offers help for Southern Utah residents; call 800-574-6763 or 435-634-5600.
Other resources include Suicide.org, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology. All provide comprehensive information and help on the issue of suicide, from prevention to treatment to coping with loss.