At the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, a welcoming environment filled with natural light and art provides a sense of hope for those seeking help with their mental health.
Located with a view of the Wasatch Mountains, the facility houses a diverse range of patients, from teenagers to professionals, each arriving in search of assistance.
Director of Social Work, Julee Millard, LCSW, emphasizes the universality of mental health challenges.
“I realize I could be anyone here given a different set of circumstances,” Millard states, highlighting that stress and challenges are part of the human experience.
The stigma surrounding mental illness often discourages individuals from seeking needed care.
Many are deterred by negative perceptions or the fear of high costs, leading to a gap in receiving vital diagnostics and therapies.
The institute comprises nine adult inpatient units that facilitate recovery from various mental health and addiction challenges.
These units offer a supportive and collaborative environment where individuals can stay for a week or longer to receive personalized assessments, medication education, and therapeutic support.
Contrary to how mental health facilities are often depicted in popular culture, patients enjoy autonomy, wearing their own clothes, selecting meals, and involving family in their recovery.
Kurt Sowles, RN, emphasizes the community aspect of the care environment, describing daily interactions over coffee and meals that unify patients and staff.
This sense of community transcends socioeconomic backgrounds, creating a space where everyone feels safe and respected.
Comprehensive support is also provided through financial counselors and a self-pay billing office, which addresses financial concerns patients may have.
Assistance includes screening for Medicaid eligibility and creating tailored payment plans.
Remarkably, from April 2024 to March 2025, over $2.6 million in adjustments were made to assist patients financially.
“They show up, you give them care,” clinical nurse coordinator Monique Hickman, MEd, BSN, notes, underscoring the commitment to ensuring that financial status does not impede access to treatment.
The importance of addressing a mental health crisis is made clear, as crisis situations are often unchosen.
“No one can pull themselves up from their bootstraps and rewrite trauma, grief, genetic dispositions, chemical imbalances, or other situations that influence mental health,” Millard explains.
By normalizing the conversation around mental health, the institute aims to dismantle stigma and provide a strong support system to all who enter.
As Millard affirms, all patients are treated with equal respect and autonomy, fostering an environment where mental health struggles are viewed as a common part of life.
Sowles employs a metaphor about entering the freeway to illustrate the institute’s supportive role.
“Just help them get across the lanes of traffic to a place they feel safe,” he explains, emphasizing the role of the staff in guiding patients through their recovery.
Patients can enter the institute through the 24-hour Crisis Care Center or the emergency room.
During the initial assessment, nurses determine if patients are a threat to themselves or unable to care for themselves, ensuring a safe entry point into the program regardless of financial circumstances.
Typically, inpatient stays last up to a week but may vary based on individual needs.
The institute’s commitment to affordability is further supported by savings from the 340B Drug Pricing Program, ensuring that financial obstacles do not prevent access to essential services.
Such investments help position University of Utah Health as a leader among academic health care systems.
This network empowers employees to give back to the community, focusing on patient-centric care.
Patients frequently express surprise at the supportive environment, with Sowles affirming, “People come in and say, ‘Wow, if I knew what this was like, I would have come in a long time ago.’”
Access to therapeutic services, medications, and diagnostics is streamlined to ensure timely support for those in need.
The team advocates for overcoming the stigma associated with mental health, underlining its significance in overall healthcare.
Dave Eldredge, MSW, LCSW, the executive director, makes a powerful statement about mental health.
“Until we begin to view mental illness as a condition that affects the brain, just like we view illnesses that impact the heart or kidneys, we will continue to suffer from the harmful effects of stigma,” Eldredge states.
By addressing both physical and mental health needs, the institute aims to enhance overall well-being for its patients.
image source from：uofuhealth
