The Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project released a research snapshot on September 17 titled Suicide Among Utah Girls and Women: A 2026 Update. The report examines suicide trends in Utah and how they vary by gender, age, race, ethnicity, and geography.
According to the report, Utah's age-adjusted suicide rate is 20.6 deaths per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national rate of 14.9. Co-author Cindy Jenkins stated that suicide remains a pressing public health issue in Utah, noting that the state continues to experience higher rates than the national average with notable differences across age and gender groups.
Key findings in the research include that men account for nearly three-quarters of suicide deaths in Utah, while women attempt suicide more frequently. For Utahns aged 10 to 24, suicide remains the leading cause of death. The report also notes that middle-aged adults between 35 and 54 show elevated rates, and Native American and White Utahns experience the highest suicide rates among racial and ethnic groups.
The research indicates that suicide is influenced by factors such as mental health conditions, substance use, economic stress, relationship challenges, and access to lethal means. For girls and women, risks can be heightened by depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body image concerns, bullying, trauma, intimate partner violence, reproductive and hormonal changes, minority stress among LGBTQ+ populations, and limited access to care or supportive relationships.
Suicide rates vary by county, with rural counties such as Duchesne, Uintah, Carbon, and San Juan reporting some of the highest rates in the state. These regions face challenges including longer travel distances for care, limited access to mental health providers, and higher rates of firearm ownership. Conversely, counties along the Wasatch Front generally report lower suicide rates.
The report outlines several policy priorities to strengthen prevention, including expanding mental health service access in rural regions, increasing evidence-based prevention programs, and strengthening crisis response systems like 988 and SafeUT. Susan R. Madsen, founding director of UWLP and co-author, stated that Utah must focus on prevention, early intervention, and access to high-quality mental health care as the state navigates demographic changes and persistent disparities.
