Public News Service

As of March 2024, 243 schools have completed JED Campus and 201 are active JED campuses, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Report: Suicidal ideation, planning, attempts decrease on college campuses

A new report showed a significant decrease in suicidal ideation, planning and attempts on college campuses around the nation, as well as improved …

Offenders who engage in financially motivated sextortion are often located outside the U.S., primarily in west African countries of Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, according to the FBI. (Adobe Stock)

'Sextortion' cases on rise in UT and nationally

The FBI is warning the public about an increase in the crime known as "sextortion," when suspects target minors and threaten or coerce them into sendi…

Utah ranked first in the nation for formal volunteerism and seventh for informal service in 2021, according to the Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism. (Adobe Stock)

UT governor's office discusses importance of service, volunteerism

Ahead of National Service Day, the governor's office brought together Utah leaders to discuss the importance of service and volunteerism. Utah Lt…

Report: Utah ranks among top 10 states for overall health and well-being

Utah ranks among the top 10 states in the 2023 America's Health Rankings report, which "aims to understand the comprehensive health and well-being of …

The Rein in Response Kickoff event will take place at 44 E. 130 N in La Verkin. (Adobe Stock)

UT program aims to help first responders through horsemanship

A new program in Utah wants to help first responders learn to recognize and work through their traumatic life events through horsemanship. This …

Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to say it would be difficult to give up social media, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

UT sues TikTok, alleging negative mental-health impacts on youths

On Tuesday, the state of Utah announced it is suing TikTok as it claims the social media platform "baits children into addictive and unhealthy use." …

Close to one in five Utah adults experiences poor mental health, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Mental health crisis center expected in South Salt Lake

A new mental-health crisis center is coming to South Salt Lake. Expected to open in 2025, the new 24/7 Kem and Carolyn Gardner Crisis Center will …

The survey also found 83% of parents say they have concerns about their young children's behavior related to sleeping habits, aggression and separation anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Social Emotional Development a Top Priority for Parents

A new survey finds a majority of parents of children younger than six in Utah and across the country rated social emotional development the most impor…

The Utah State University research estimates that 39% of transgender people currently meet the criteria for severe psychological distress, compared with 5% of the overall U.S. population. (Adobe Stock)

USU Finds Clinicians Aren't Well-Versed in Transgender Health Care

Much has been said about the need for gender-affirming health care - but a Utah State University study says many health-care providers don't have the …

The American Heart Association encourages people spend time in nature as one way to relieve stress and anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

UT Doc: Unchecked Stress Levels Can Lead to Health Consequences

It is Community Health Improvement Week, and one Utah family care physician wants people to use the time to think about the effects that stress may …

Utah's average cost of center-based child care for toddlers was $9,003 per year, 9% of the median income of a married couple. (Adobe Stock)

UT Excels in Child Well-Being, But Parents Struggle with Child Care Costs

Utah ranks second in the country for overall child well-being, moving up from last year's fourth-place ranking in the annual Kids Count Data Book…

According to the Children's Collaborative for Healing and Support, between 2017 and 2021, more than 5 million children nationally experienced the death of a parent. (Adobe Stock)

UT Pilot Program Aims to Support Grieving Kids

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined the Children's Collaborative for Healing and Support last week to announce a pilot program in the state designed to …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and nearly half of students felt persistently sad or hopeless. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit Group Urges School Districts to Focus on Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one group wants school districts in Utah and across the country to focus on critical mental health support…

Mattingly says nearly 5% of adults in the United States are living with ADHD, about 10 million diagnosed adults. (Adobe Stock)

ADHD Diagnoses Increase; So Does Demand for Medications

It has been seven months since The Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide shortage of medications used to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperac…

Among racial and ethnic groups in Utah, research indicates almost 50% of Black adults aren't getting enough sleep. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 1 in 3 Utahns Not Getting Enough Shut-Eye

More than 30% of Utah adults are getting less than the ideal seven hours of sleep each night. Utah ranks 16th among states for insufficient sleep…

Across the 398 women surveyed, 57.8% occupied no marginalized social category, while 22.6% occupied at least one marginalized category and almost 20% occupied more than one. (Adobe Stock)

Report Eyes Health Impacts of Social Belonging in UT Women

Research from The University of Utah explores the physical- and mental-health implications of social belonging in women. Study author Lisa Diamond …

Utah is the fifth state to pass legislation restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. (Adobe Stock)

UT Ban on Gender-Affirming Health Care Draws Pushback

A group of physicians is voicing opposition to Utah's enactment of Senate Bill 16, banning gender-affirming health care for transgender youth…

The Indian Child Welfare Act establishes a preference for native children removed from their families to be placed with extended family members or in native foster homes to preserve their culture and heritage. (PxHere)

SCOTUS to Hear Constitutional Challenge to Indian Child Welfare Act

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court has Native Americans in Utah and other states concerned the outcome could revive the centuries-old practice of …

In a recent survey on children's well-being, Utah ranked highest among the states in the Four Corners region. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Ranks 4th Among States in Survey on Children's Well-Being

An annual report on children's well-being rates Utah among the best in the country, but advocates warn it also pointed to a growing mental-health …

Even before the pandemic, Utah hospitals and clinics treated about 70 people per day for self-inflicted injuries, many of which were suicide attempts. (etenwanich/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: New 988 Suicide Prevention Line Will Save Utahns' Lives

Mental-health advocates say the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline could save the lives of many Utahns and others facing mental-health crises…

A medical aid-in-dying bill had a hearing in Utah for the first time but failed to move out of committee on a 9-2 vote. (Adobe Stock)

Polling Shows Utah Voters Want Medical Aid in Dying

Despite polls showing most voters support the right to a peaceful death, a bill to legalize medical aid in dying has once again failed to advance in …

The outlook for children's well-being in Utah is good, but a new report says 173,000 kids live in households where parents don't have stable employment. (diego serva/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Among Top 5 States for Children's Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY -- Families with children in Utah and other states remained mostly steady over the past year in an annual report on children's wellbein…

Experts are concerned that many parents haven't been equipped in the pandemic to cope with the stress of working at home while their children are learning from home. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Poverty, Pandemic Could Bring Increase in Child Abuse Cases

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah families need more resources to counter concerns of a slumping economy and the pandemic, which could subject more children to …

The COVID-19 pandemic is severely disrupting the lives of Utah's children, according to a new study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Philip Steury/Adobe Stock)

COVID Pandemic Brings Stress, Health Issues to Utah Kids, Families

PROVO, Utah -- The COVID-19 pandemic and its side-effects - job loss, poverty, hunger and the threat of homelessness - have hit Americans hard in 2020…

Studies have shown that people who identify as LBGTQ often must deal with discrimination and social stigma, which can lead to a high rate of mental-health concerns. (Ben Gingell/Adobe Stock)

Utah Coalition Plan Focuses on LGBTQ Suicide Prevention

SALT LAKE CITY - Members of Utah's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning community are at a much greater suicide risk than …

Marcy Baliel is a Utah parent raising a child with mental health issues. Through a six-week class and an ongoing support group, she teaches other parents how to deal with these situations. (NAMI Utah)

Classes Help Utah Parents Deal with Children's Mental-Health Issues

SALT LAKE CITY - There are few challenges more daunting for parents than dealing with a child's mental illness. A new program can provide Utah …

Public health officials say the stress of life during the coronavirus crisis has caused a sharp increase in the number of people in Utah experiencing depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. (Kioshkin/AdobeStock)

Utah Program to Focus on Mental-Health Issues from COVID Crisis

SALT LAKE CITY -- While most Utahns seem to have weathered the coronavirus pandemic with less illness and death than has been seen elsewhere…

Mental-health professionals say the stay-at-home precautions to counter the coronavirus pandemic are causing many people to develop feelings of stress, anxiety and isolation. (Rido/Adobe Stock)<br />

Resources Available for Utahns Feeling Stress, Anxiety During Pandemic

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utahns dealing with stress and anxiety because of the coronavirus crisis can turn to a growing number of free mental-health services…

A new report says more children who are put in foster care are being placed with families rather than in group homes or institutions. (inaposhkina/Twenty20)

Utah Places More Foster Kids with Relatives, Families

SALT LAKE CITY – The lives of foster children are improving in Utah and other states, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey …

A report commissioned by the Utah Legislature finds that simple steps such as trigger locks could prevent many of the state�s firearm suicides. (Wikimedia Commons)<br /><br />

Utah Lawmakers Seek to Slow Growing Rate of Firearm Suicides

SALT LAKE CITY — A new study finds that 85 percent of deaths involving firearms in Utah are suicides. And state officials hope to use that data …

The Human Rights Campaign says policies that promote inclusive school atmospheres are key to protecting LGBTQ teens' well-being. (jglsongs/Flickr)

Lawmakers Could Do More to Protect LGBTQ Kids from Bullying, Advocates Say

SALT LAKE CITY — A new survey shows high rates of depression and anxiety among LGBTQ teens nationwide. Advocates say lawmakers could do more to …

More than 10 times as many Americans are now imprisoned for drug offenses than in 1980. (Pixabay)

Report: Harsher Drug Sentencing Doesn't Benefit Public Safety

SALT LAKE CITY – A new, 50-state study finds that putting more people in jail for drug offenses doesn't reduce drug use or overdose deaths…

Kids spend an average of nine hours a day in front of a digital or media device. (Pixabay)

Campaign to Protect Kids from Tech Picks Up Steam

SALT LAKE CITY – A campaign has launched to protect kids' brains from the manipulative and addictive power of technology. Known as the Truth …

A majority of the people incarcerated in Utah have less than a high school education. (Getty Images)

University of Utah Brings Higher Ed to Prisons

SALT LAKE CITY -- A new program spearheaded by the University of Utah is reviving higher education classes for incarcerated people at the Utah State C…

Experts fear repealing the Affordable Care Act could reduce access to mental health care for those who need it most. (Pixabay)

Mental-Health Care Advocates say ACA Repeal Would Come at a Cost

SALT LAKE CITY — Recently, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the Affordable Care Act covers "very few people,” but one sector …

Family gatherings and holiday parties could quickly go downhill this year, as emotions continue to run high post-election. (Pixabay)

Healthy Debate Good for Holiday Gatherings

SALT LAKE CITY – "We respectfully agree to disagree" may be the mantra heard at many office parties and holiday gatherings across the country…

Student anxiety and incidents of harassment have increased since the 2016 presidential election, according to a survey of school personnel. (iStockphoto)

Kids Face Anxiety, Harassment at School in Wake of Election

SALT LAKE CITY – This year's presidential election has had a big impact on the nation's schools, grades K-12. According to a new national …

A new report offers gift-giving tips to inspire gratitude and generosity. (Pixabay)

Gift Tips to Inspire Gratitude and Generosity

SALT LAKE CITY — People feel more grateful for memorable experiences than for material objects, new research suggests. And those feelings of …

A study has shown foster parents' need for more support and training. (Pixabay)

Report Offers Blueprint for Better Foster Care

SALT LAKE CITY – Child welfare systems need to provide foster parents with more training to care for children who have experienced instability a…

One in five people struggles with mental illness in the United States, but on average, they wait about 11 years to get help. (Pixabay)

Mental-Health Stigma Keeps Many from Treatment

SALT LAKE CITY — For people struggling with mental-health issues, stigma is a major barrier to seeking help, according to a new report…

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report says 44,000 Utah children, and 5.1 million nationally, are separated from a parent in childhood due to the adult's incarceration. (AndrejsZendega/iStockphoto)

Incarcerated Parent Can be a Struggle for Children

SALT LAKE CITY - More than 5 million children across the nation, including 44,000 in Utah, experience separation from a parent due to incarceration…

A bill that would legalize marijuana for medical use in Utah is making its way through the state legislature. (Wikipedia Commons)

Medical Marijuana Bill Advances in Utah Senate

SALT LAKE CITY - A bill to legalize medical marijuana is set for a final vote this week in the Utah Senate after getting preliminary approval by just …

Utah is launching a new program to better children's lives called Evidence2Success. Courtesy: Annie E. Casey Foundation

Salt Lake County Adopts New Program to Improve Kids' Lives

SALT LAKE CITY - Kearns Township in Salt Lake County is gearing up to launch a new program called Evidence2Success that takes a hard look at what's g…

Nancy Madsen-Wilkerson, Utah's 2015 Portrait of Care honoree, with a painting of her and her mother. Credit: AARP Utah

AARP Artistically Honors Family Caregiver

SALT LAKE CITY - November is Family Caregiver Month and AARP is celebrating by recognizing the 40 million Americans who help older parents, spouses …

Utah Unveils New Online Tool for Assessing Mental Health

SALT LAKE CITY - The recent mass shooting in Oregon again has focused national attention on untreated mental-health issues. Now, Utah is doing …

PHOTO: According to a report out this week, when it comes to placing children in foster care versus a group home or institution, Utah's performance mirrors the national average. Photo credit: Catawba County, North Carolina.

Report Looks At Utah's Child Placement

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah ranks at the statistical national average when it comes to placing children who are not with their biological families into a fa…

PHOTO: About 22 military veterans take their own lives every day, and legislation coming up for a vote this week in the U.S. Senate would prompt a third-party evaluation of the mental health and suicide prevention programs intended to help them. Image courtesy U.S. Defense Department.

Veterans' Suicide Prevention at Center of Bill in U.S. Senate

SALT LAKE CITY – Military veterans in Utah and across the nation may gain access to improved mental health services, if the U.S. Senate passes …

PHOTO: The 'get outside' message for children is being extended to those with disabilities. A professional outdoor educator cites benefits for a child's development, as well as stress relief for the whole family. Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of the Interior.

Being Outdoors Can Benefit Utahans Living with Disabilities

SALT LAKE CITY - In Utah and across the nation, the 'get outside' message for children is being extended to kids with disabilities. A professional …

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UT: Mental Health