UTA is proud to have partnered with the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition. We are first and foremost a transit provider, and we understand that this role is about more than just getting people from place to place. We also have a social responsibility to the community that we serve.
Members of the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition are from both national and local organizations that work towards preventing suicide. Notable national organizations in this field include the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), both of which have chapters in Utah. In today’s post, we will focus on the work that these organizations do both nationally and at a local level as a part of the Coalition.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Utah)
NAMI is a national organization that has a thriving chapter in Utah. NAMI Utah works to give those with mental illness the support and dignity that they seek in society. Their mission is “to ensure the dignity and improve the lives of those who live with mental illness and their families through support, education and advocacy.” They were founded in 1988 by family members who were looking to support their loved ones that were living with mental health conditions. These family members and individuals are at the forefront of the work that NAMI Utah does, including teaching classes, leading support groups, and advocating within their own communities.
They offer free support groups and education for anyone who has been affected by mental health conditions in Utah. The groups are peer-led and are taught by certified facilitators and teachers who come to the table with experiences of their own dealing with mental illness.
Classes and programs are taught in both English and Spanish, and are both in-person and online. NAMI Utah has affiliates in all parts of Utah, from Castle Country to Southwest Utah. Find a program that works for you.
NAMI Utah also provides mentoring programs, criminal justice assistance, resources for families and children affected by mental illness or suicide, and suicide prevention. Mental illness is often an indicator of whether or not someone will attempt suicide at some point in their life. For this reason, NAMI Utah is an active member of the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition, as their work is critical in supporting individuals who may be at risk of suicide.
To learn more about NAMI Utah and the work that they do, visit their website. If you are an individual struggling with mental illness or someone you love is affected, you can find free resources and ways to help. Remember, treatment works, recovery is possible, and you are not alone!
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), like NAMI, is a national organization with a strong branch in the state of Utah. AFSP works to eliminate the loss of life from suicide by “delivering innovative prevention programs, educating the public, raising funds for suicide research and programs, and reaching out to those who have lost someone to suicide.”
AFSP was established in 1987 as a voluntary health organization. They work to empower communities affected by suicide with research, education, and advocacy tools. They work to create a culture that is informed about mental health through funding scientific research, educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention, advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention, and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide. AFSB has a three year strategic plan that outlines the methods that they will take to contribute to the work of suicide prevention.
The Utah Chapter of AFSP was chartered in 2010 and has spent the last decade making strides towards saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. In 2020 alone, they have funded 27 research grants, trained over 3,500 Utahns, had 830 advocates representing them to Congress, and sponsored hundreds of volunteers who donated their time to events, programming, and OOTD walks through Utah. Last year, they sponsored six Community Walks and one Campus Walk. These walks were attended by hundreds of people and are put on to raise awareness surrounding suicide prevention. Their outreach program also provides training for gatekeeper programs in order to support those who have been affected by suicide in our communities.
This year, due to COVID-19 precautions, AFSP Utah will be hosting a virtual walk in place of their annual, in-person walk. You can walk on your own or with friends or family members in order to participate. The walk will take place on September 12. You can sign up to participate today.
AFSP Utah also supports programs that are run at a national level. One of these, Talk Saves Lives, is a standardized education program that provides participants with a clear understanding suicide, including up-to-date research on suicide prevention and how they can work within their communities to save lives. On September 8, you can join AFSP Utah for a Talk Saves Lives program, which will include an introduction to suicide prevention and information about common risk factors, warning signs, and how to keep yourself and others safe.
Create a graphic and share your Out of Darkness experience today.
UTA’s Partnership
We care about you, and we want our work to reflect that. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and we are honoring this month with a blog series dedicated to the suicide prevention efforts that are underway across our state. Tune in next week for information about local groups that are working within our state towards suicide prevention.
