Finding Help For Your Mental Health (2024)

“I can hear the desperation in their voice. It’s thick with emotion and vulnerability,” said David Eldredge, LCSW.

As senior director of clinical operations at Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) at University of Utah Health, Eldredge often hears from people who are eager to find help for themselves or a loved one.

“The first step is your primary care provider, if you have one,” Eldredge said. “If you have an established provider, they can help schedule you to discuss mental health concerns. A primary care provider can prescribe short-term medication and will refer you to a qualified specialist. Plus, any stigma we might feel about asking for help is lessened with a trusted doctor.”

If your doctor is based in Utah, they can talk to a psychiatrist about your condition through a free, state-funded program called CALL-UP.

HMHI can provide mental health support for adults of all ages, teens, and youth. To learn more, visit our website or call 801-583-2500.

Most commercial insurance plans offer a network of credentialed providers to members. Check your plan’s website for more information.

“The value of crisis services is that the caller defines the crisis. It can be: ‘I’m feeling really sad today,’ or ‘I’m not sure where to turn for help,’” said Eldredge, who spent the early years of his career working in crisis services. Services include:

• 988 national suicide hotline
• SafeUT app for students, teachers, frontline workers, and the National Guard
• Utah crisis line: 1-800-273-8255
• Utah non-crisis emotional support: 801-587-1055

At Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s Receiving Center, a walk-in resource available at any time, you define your crisis and are welcomed by compassionate professionals who connect you to the help you need.

• LCSW: licensed clinical social worker

• LCMHC: licensed clinical mental health counselor

• CMHC: clinical mental health counselor

• MSW: master’s degree in social work

• MD: medical doctor

• Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Psychiatrists must complete medical school plus an additional four years of residency training in psychiatry. Their medical degree allows them to prescribe medication.

• Psychologist: Licensure as a psychologist is based on education, examination, and supervised professional experience. Utah psychologists are licensed by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing allows consumers to check the legitimacy of any provider. Visit dopl.utah.gov to search a provider’s credentials and licensure and to see if any citations have been filed against them.

Here are a few questions that Eldredge suggests for a prospective mental health provider:

• What mental health conditions do you specialize in?

• Do you use evidence-based treatments*?

• What outcomes have you seen for other people with my symptoms?

• What happens if I need to talk to you outside of our scheduled appointments?

*Evidence-based practice is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.

HMHI has partnered with the Ad Council to build public awareness about the stigma that keeps many from seeking help for mental health needs. Visit loveyourmindtoday.org to learn more about different mental health concerns and find local resources.

At the end of your search, trust your instincts when making a decision.

“As clinicians, we take an oath,” Eldredge said. “First and foremost—‘do no harm’. Seek out the most qualified provider and then follow your instincts. If you’re seeing or sensing red flags—such as upfront cash billing, an odd clinic setting, or a lack of credentials—pay attention to that.”

Choosing a nonjudgmental, culturally sensitive provider with whom you can build a good rapport, mutual trust, and respect is an essential foundation for the relationship.