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Understanding Mental Health

If you are concerned about an individual in crisis, please refer to our crisis support webpage

Click any of the following images for detailed information from government sponsored mental health agencies

National Alliance on mental illness  Substance abuse and mental health services  mentalhealth.gov

As individuals seek an understanding of mental health, it's essential to remember that mental health – how a person thinks, feels, and behaves – is incredibly complex. How an individual thinks, feels, and behaves is best understood as a combination of biological (i.e. hormones, neurotransmitters, genetics, etc.), social (i.e. family, environment, peers), and psychological (i.e. thoughts, perspectives, beliefs, etc.) factors interacting in unique ways.

Because of the complexity of mental health, effective treatments for mental illness often target a combination of factors and the process may take time to find the right treatment for each individual. Mental health treatments can include medication (which generally targets biological factors) and/or counseling (which generally targets psychological and social factors) and there are hundreds of different types of treatments beyond counseling and medication.

The most important thing to keep in mind regarding mental health is that there are a variety of effective treatments and an individual's mental health does improve with the right treatment. 

Some additional information on mental health can be found at this link.

You can also download and read these newsletters (English version, Spanish version) from HOPE4Utah with current information on mental health:

NAMI-Utah offers FREE courses designed to provide education on mental health and normalization of symptoms which are led by persons with lived mental health experience. These classes take place at Primary Children's Wasatch Canyons Campus in Taylorsville.


Community Mental Health Treatment Resources

Jordan School District Local Community Mental Health Provider Spreadsheet

This spreadsheet is maintained by Jordan School District's Health and Wellness Team and is meant to provide information on mental health services in our area including insurance information and clinical specialties.

Mental Health Resources Handout 

Salt Lake County Youth Services
Salt Lake County Youth Services provides a number of community resources including  after-school programs, prevention education, counseling, substance abuse prevention and support, as well as group homes and resources for homeless youth. Salt Lake County also provides immediately available, free crisis therapy by phone or in person at the Juvenile Receiving Center. Youth may come to a Juvenile Receiving Centers (JRC) on their own or parents may bring youth in for a break, respite, or individual/family crisis counseling.

  • Salt Lake JRC: 177 W Price Avenue, South Salt Lake: Open 24/7 – (385) 468-4500
  • West Jordan JRC: 8781 South Redwood Rd. Building # 3, West Jordan: Open Monday-Friday 8 AM to 8 PM – 385-468-4610

The Optum Care Advocates (for individuals with Medicaid) can be reached by calling (877) 370-8953, and pressing 3. Individuals with Optum coverage can also search for mental health and substance abuse service providers throughout Salt Lake County at this link