Rep. Ben McAdams joined Utah health experts to discuss the steps being taken, and the work that still needs to be done, to intervene on Utah’s suicide crisis at a news conference Monday.
Utah has the sixth-highest suicide rate in the country, according to 2017 data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and suicide is the leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 17. McAdams emphasized the importance of both research to better understand suicide and support for those at risk for committing suicide. As mental health becomes less stigmatized, resources must be available for those who need them, he said.