A recent report from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services indicates that 23.7% of Utah adults experienced seven or more days of poor mental health in the past 30 days during 2023. The age-adjusted rate for Utah is closely aligned with the national average of 24.0%.
Demographic trends in mental health
The report highlights several demographic trends regarding mental health status in the state. Mental health challenges were reported at higher rates among adults with lower income levels, specifically reaching 39.5% for those earning less than $25,000. Conversely, older adults were found to be less likely to report poor mental health status.
Gender and age-based differences
Gender-based data shows that the percentage of individuals reporting mentally unhealthy days was higher for women than for men. Within specific age groups, the 18-34 demographic reported the highest prevalence at 37.3%, while the 65 and older group reported 11.6%.
Impact of education and ethnicity
Education and ethnicity also serve as indicators in the data. The percentage of adults reporting poor mental health was 25.0% for those with some post-high school education, compared to 16.7% for college graduates. Regarding ethnicity, the rate for Hispanic/Latino adults was 22.7%, while the rate for Non-Hispanic/Latino adults was 24.0%.
Mental health crisis resources
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (OSUMH) serves as the state's public mental health and substance use authority. For those in crisis, the Utah Crisis Line can be reached by calling 988 for immediate, free, and confidential support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
