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Percent of Utah children with high mental health treatment needs
Current Value
23.6%
Definition
Needs Mental Health Treatment was estimated using the K6 Scale that was developed with support from the National Center for Health Statistics for use in the National Health Interview Survey. The tool screens for psychological distress by asking students During the past 30 days, how often did you: a) feel nervous? b) feel hopeless? c) feel restless or fidgety? d) feel so depressed that nothing could cheer you up? e) feel that everything was an effort? f) feel worthless? Answers to each were scored based on responses: None of the time (0 points), A little of the time (1 point), Some of the time (2 points), Most of the time (3 points), All of the time (4 points). Students with a total score of 13 or more points were determined to have high mental health treatment needs. Students with moderate (scoring 7-12 points) and low (scoring 0-6 points) mental health treatment needs. https://dsamh-training.utah.gov/_documents/SHARPreports/2021/StateofUtahProfileReport.pdf
Measure Definition
This measure shows the percentage of Utah children (in 6, 8, 10, and 12th grades) who indicated high need for mental health treatment during the past 30 days.
Six questions make up this scale."During the past 30 days, how often did you: a) feel nervous? b) feel hopeless? c) feel restless or fidgety? d) feel so depressed that nothing could cheer you up? e) feel that everything was an effort? f) feel worthless?" None of the time (0), a little of the time (1), some of the time (2), most of the time (3), all of the time (4). Children are considered to have low mental health treatment needs if their total score falls between 0 and 6 point, medium mental health treatment needs if their total falls between 7 and 12, and high mental health treatment needs if their total falls between 13 and 24.
Source: SHARP survey https://dsamh-training.utah.gov/_documents/SHARPreports/2025/State%20of%20Utah%20Profile%20Report.pdf
Story Behind the Curve
The percentage of Utah youth who have high need for mental health treatment increased from 18% in 2017 to 25% in 2023. In 2025, there was a slight decrease to 24%. We do not know why the percentage of youth with high need for mental health treatment increased, but the largest increase was seen in 2021, during the global pandemic of COVID-19. The decrease in 2025 was mirrored by decreases in depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts.
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