OUR HISTORY
Over 100 years ago, Mental Health America founder, Clifford Beers, was told to start his mental health movement anonymously. In the face of naysayers, he replied, "I must fight in the open." He refused to give power to the shame and stigma surrounding mental illness.
We honor this message and encourage everyone to do the same.
Meet the Team
Mental Health America of Utah is a genuine grassroots organization. We came together recognizing the need for peer support and the need of the expertise of people with lived experience in our service systems. Our founding board members are individuals who have had year of experience as peers, family members, or who have other expertise in mental health. Our board members work in community organizations, crisis services, housing, and with the criminal justice and VA systems. We represent diverse populations and want to serve and prioritize the needs of those who are marginalized in our communities.
Meet our Executive Director
OUR VALUES
We believe there are many paths to mental wellness and work to respect and assist individuals in finding their individual path.
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Individuals affected by mental illness should be treated with respect and dignity.
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Individuals with lived experience should be represented at every level of policy and service development. “Nothing about us without us.”
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Individuals affected by mental illness should be able to live in their homes and communities and be provided with services and supports to enable this.
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Individuals with mental illness should live in the least restrictive environment possible. If an individual affected by mental illness is sent to any institution, that person should have as brief a stay as possible with a plan for discharge. This plan should be created upon admission and should have clear and identifiable benchmarks.
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To enable living in the community, individuals with serious mental illness should have access to evidence-based treatments such as Assertive Community Treatment teams, intensive case management and peer support.
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Individuals affected by mental illness should have access to safe, affordable, decent housing with necessary supports and services.
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Individuals receiving mental health services and who are in mental health facilities should be treated with dignity and free from abuse and neglect.
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Children with behavioral issues, trauma, or mental health challenges should have access to services (such as high fidelity wraparound) that allow them to stay at home with the goal of keeping families together.
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Removing children and youth from their home and placing them in residential or inpatient treatment should only happen if there is serious risk to the child or their family. Even then, this placement should be for only brief periods of time. Families must receive the support and resources they need to reunite the family as soon as possible.
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All service providers should be held accountable for the services that are offered and demonstrate positive outcomes
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Individuals successfully evolving from the effects of mental illness and substance abuse disorders, should be given the opportunity to, and with proper training, become Certified Peer Support Specialists, and be considered an integral part of the wellness model.
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Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis should be able to get a response from peers and mental health professionals -- not law enforcement. If law enforcement need to respond for safety considerations, they should be trained in the best practice Crisis Intervention Team training model.
It seems like so long ago
And yet it feels like yesterday
The milestones, the heroes
The needed steps, in those days
My aching heart, Knows it’s real
The body keeps the score
The truth is, I had been sunk so far
That I crave, the strength to heal
For those who need that extra hand
Or those who just understand
The journey, maybe just to stand
Yet still, do the best you can
Living, to me, is loving with all my might
In gratitude, for the little things
Taking the time to see in spite
Of the clouds that block our view
The truth is it’s never easy
Choose your battles wisely
We all only have so much energy
And together is better, honestly
We don’t have to be a people pleaser
To have those few who get us
Your support system is necessary
The environment has its effects
It seems like so long ago
And yet it feels like yesterday
The milestones, the heroes
The needed steps, in those days
My aching heart, Knows it’s real
The body keeps the score
The truth is, I had been sunk so far
That I crave, the strength to heal
For those who need that extra hand
Or those who just understand
The journey, maybe just to stand
Yet still, do the best you can
Living, to me, is loving with all my might
In gratitude, for the little things
Taking the time to see in spite
Of the clouds that block our view
The truth is it’s never easy
Choose your battles wisely
We all only have so much energy
And together is better, honestly
We don’t have to be a people pleaser
To have those few who get us
Your support system is necessary
The environment has its effects
Stability, Goes hand in hand
With your inner peace
By caring for the ones who care for you
Your growth will increase
When your stability is a part of your health
And your health is first
Some of the survival things I did
I had to let go of to thrive, indeed
The journey you're on
Is more than just starting
Every step matters
for where you're going
There are basics, But overall
Live while you can
By loving, and dreaming your plan
Be someone, to at least one
Then no matter how long
Or far, or strong
Like yesterday, you stand
With heartfelt, growth and understanding