Our Health Priorities
Working Together to Solve Big Problems
Utah has one of the healthiest populations in the United States. Yet persistent problems like diabetes, suicide, opioid addiction, and limited rural health care access continue to plague the state. Community engagement gives us the opportunity to address these issues.
Every three years, we join a broad coalition of community representatives, civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, and residents to identify our greatest health needs. The resulting Community Health Needs Assessment gives us a shared set of goals to work toward together—a common north star guiding us forward.
The CHNA helps everyone understand what matters to the community. Then, we can collaborate to improve quality of life, expand health access, and enhance the well-being of everyone in Utah. Below, we highlight a few ways that we’re partnering to make our community healthier.
Four Areas of Focus
Chronic Conditions
In Utah, nearly 10% of adults have diabetes, 30% have prediabetes, while 32% struggle with obesity. Meanwhile, social determinants of health—the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes—are linked to other chronic conditions like hypertension and cancer. How can have the greatest impact on Utahns suffering from chronic conditions?
Behavioral Health
Utah ranks 11th highest among U.S. states in the share of adults with mental illness. Yet many Utahns don't have access to the behavioral health care they need: nearly half of Utah’s adults and more than half of Utah’s youth do not receive treatment Our vision is that the access to and quality of services in Utah are materially improved statewide.
Substance Use Disorders
Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury death in Utah, outpacing firearms, falls, and motor vehicle crashes. Ten Utahns die each week from drug overdose, which is why we are committed to clear recommendations related to prescription drug misuse, substance abuse, and opioid-related illnesses.
Health Disparities
Health disparities are defined as avoidable and unjust differences in outcomes. We're committed to reducing those disparities for residents in under-resourced parts of the state, expanding access, education, and jobs to every Utahn, and creating better career pathways for those historically under-represented in health care.
2023 Report to Our Community Features
Seeds of Change
Diabetes, food insecurity, and homelessness are inextricably linked. A tiny urban farm is transforming individual lives and finding solutions to these systemic problems.
For the Love of Mothers
Amid the pressures of parenthood, many Utah mothers struggle with postpartum mental health. In our family-friendly state, are we caring for the caregivers?
A Bridge to Recovery
Most patients addicted to opioids show up in the ER desperate for help. How does a traditionally fragmented health system coordinate care when a person needs it most?
Returning to Heal
For more than a decade, residents of a former fundamentalist stronghold had no access to health care. Driven by the dire need in their remote community, local leaders fought to open a clinic.
2020 Report to Our Community Features
Curbing the Rise of Utah Suicides
For every person in the US who dies of suicide, twice as many die in Utah. What’s worse, suicide is the leading cause of death among one of Utah’s youngest groups: teens aged 15-19. In the face of climbing Utah suicides, can we save a suffering state? Can we afford not to?
Driving Out Diabetes
Nearly 30 million Americans live with full-blown diabetes—and 88 million more struggle with prediabetes. While we create better treatments and search for a cure, we also have to bring resources to disproportionately affected communities to make diabetes management easier.
Fighting the Opioid Epidemic
In fewer than 25 years, opioid addiction has devastated the United States, inflicting a staggering social toll. Now, it’s time for health care systems to work with community partners to address this epidemic.
Expanding Rural Access
America’s traditional brick-and-mortar health care system is clearly not designed for the 20 percent of Americans who live in rural regions. But solving those problems requires intensive long-term work.