Utah rests at the eighth highest in the nation for youth suicide, suicide being the leading cause of death for youth in the state. The rate of suicides is growing almost four times the national average.To combat the rising problem the Utah State Legislature and the University Neuropsychiatric Institute at the University of Utah, collaborated to create The Safe Utah Crisis Text and Tip Line app, designed to give resources to people struggling with mental health crises or those who know someone who is struggling, among other things.
Counselors are onsite at the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) 24 hours a day responding to calls and texts. Their staff is also in contact with schools around the state should a situation involving the school or students arise.
When the app is opened, after prompting for a personal passcode, the home screen is revealed and presents four options; start a chat with a crisis counselor, submit a tip to a school, start a call with a crisis counselor, or view existing chats or tips. A trained crisis counselor will respond, usually in a matter of seconds. All communications remain anonymous unless the user supplies their name.
Senior Lauren Osborn recounted her experience using the app. “My brother came to me with a friend who was struggling with suicidal thoughts and had planned to do it that night… with using the app I was able to find someone who was able to help them. I had never met them before and they don’t go to our school but they are now getting the help they need”.
On Tuesday, February 27, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), spoke on the senate floor to present two proposals related to school safety. He recounted the ways the state of Utah has addressed the problem including the SafeUT app. According to Hatch the “submit a tip” function has stopped 86 planned school attacks across the state. In response schools across the states are encouraging students to download the program.
SafeUT is available on the Apple and Android app stores. An online version can also be found at, https://safeut.med.utah.edu/.
