SALT LAKE CITY Utah first lady Abby Cox and others announced a new mental well-being campaign in rural Wasatch County middle and high schools to combat continuing high rates of suicide among youth. I believe that Utah is a unique state with a unique culture, and it s up to us to come together to reduce judgment and stigma around mental health issues so those who are struggling can find help in a community of understanding and support, Cox said Tuesday during a videoconference with students and school leaders from the rural northern Utah county. I m proud of the work we ve done and the progress we ve made, but like all of you, I recognize that there needs to be more done, Cox said.
In southern Utah, one company has looked to one of the biggest ways teens communicate text messaging.
About four years ago, several suicides happened in area high schools, said Iuri Melo, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist in St. George. His friend, a principal, reached out to him for ideas to deal with the tremendous pressure he faced trying to respond to tragedy in his school. And I want to do more. I have to be more proactive, I have to be more preventative, Melo recalled the principal telling him.
The therapist and others began brainstorming ways to reach students who need help.
LOGAN A 22-year-old woman who was reported missing from Logan Canyon was found dead, authorities said.
Family of the woman reported the woman missing Friday evening, and the woman s car was located by authorities in Logan Canyon, said Cache County Sheriff s Lt. Doyle Peck.
Peck said Monday the woman had been found dead from an apparent suicide. He did not release her name or any further information about the case.
Saturday, Peck said hiking and dog search and rescue teams were dispatched to the canyon and covered a lot of ground but to no avail.
Search and rescue teams returned to the canyon Sunday morning to resume the search efforts. Peck added authorities had interviewed family and friends to see if it was possible she went camping or possibly picked up by someone else before they located the woman s body.
WEST VALLEY CITY Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the mayor of Utah s most Hispanic city joined together Tuesday to promote an unprecedented initiative one specifically aimed at Utahns suffering a disproportionately higher rate of depression and suicide. We ve never done a project like this, Cox told reporters after a news conference hosted at West Valley City Hall on Tuesday. We ve done suicide prevention in the past, but nothing at this scale and nothing directed specifically at this sizable and growing population fastest-growing population in our state.
In the bilingual news conference, Cox and West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow promoted the Live On campaign, a media campaign aiming to bring awareness of mental health and suicide prevention resources specifically for Utah s Latino community.
KSL TV
SALT LAKE CITY – It s no secret this pandemic has taken a toll on our mental health. But what does that impact look like for children?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of children and teens seeking help for anxiety and depression is rising across the country. The study found mental health-related ER visits increased by 31% last year.
The Vega family said their 14-year-old daughter now makes up part of that statistic attempting to take her own life two weeks ago.
Family in crisis If somebody you love tries to take their life, you feel like failure. And you question everything you did. Like, Did I do too much? Did I not do enough? And it s scary to be open about it, said mother Brandy Vega.