The fight for mental health awareness

Kylie Boyter
Contributor

As the Utah Public Health Data Study reported, Utah consistently has higher rates of self-reported lifetime depression than the national average (24.2% compared to the national average of 20.1% in 2021). ). Sevier County has one of the highest suicide rates in Utah counties, along with Carbon, Emery, Beaver and Duchenne counties.
Litchfield resident Jackie Roundy is dedicated to raising awareness of this issue and advocating for mental health facilities in this rural area.
“I started speaking out about mental health, bullying and suicide issues when I attended the Mrs. Sevier pageant in 2014,” Roundy said. “Everyone deserves support, so I want to be someone they can turn to and talk to about their resources.
Roundy recently took part in a community voting site to gain attention for a presentation at the Litchfield City Council meeting on January 10th.
“Litchfield City Council put out 333 signatures on a petition to build a mental health facility in Litchfield,” Roundy said. “Litchfield is second in his list of the top five most suicides in Utah, so this is something our community desperately needs.”
Roundy received support from the Council to continue her efforts and to put forward ideas on how the Council could assist in her mission.
“Governor Spencer Cox has taken a massive initiative to address mental health and suicide rates in Utah and across the nation,” said Mayor Brian Burroughs. is required.”
On January 10, Governor Cox hosted the Social Media and Youth Mental Health Symposium to discuss the impact of social media on young minds.
“Our children are the future of our state and we must do everything we can to protect them,” Cox said in a news release.
In examining USU’s 2021 Needs Assessment for Sevier County, 240 participants identified youth suicide as the top concern for young people in the county. Second, youth social media addiction. The third is youth mental health. For adults, the study found that the first concern is suicide. Second, mental health. Third, family relationships.
“We need more resources in the region to support these growing concerns,” Roundy said. “That’s why we need to keep the conversation going.”
Roundy plans to continue her initiatives and petitions for more help in rural areas like Richfield. If you are interested in supporting or participating in her cause, please email jackier11227@gmail.com or sign her petition at https://tinyurl.com/RichMHsurvey.