SafeUT: The lifeline Utah students — and families — need this school year

SALT LAKE CITY — As Utah students head back to school, many carry more than just backpacks and notebooks — they carry stress, anxiety, and emotional burdens that often go unseen. That's why mental health advocates are urging families to get familiar with SafeUT, a free, confidential app and online resource that's quietly saving lives across the state.

Since its launch in late 2016, SafeUT has become a vital support system for Utah's youth. With over 329,000 downloads, nearly half of the state's K-12 students now have access to licensed mental health counselors — available 24/7.

"If you're feeling overwhelmed, if your child is feeling overwhelmed, SafeUT is a place where you can get support," Diana Ballesteros, SafeUT outreach coordinator at Huntsman Mental Health Institute and former crisis line counselor, said. "This could be by providing coping mechanisms or just being a listening ear."

And it's not just for students. Parents, educators and even law enforcement, service members, and health care communities have access to SafeUT's services through SafeUT Frontline and SafeUT National Guard.

"We're talking about 1.9 million Utahns who have access," Ballesteros explained. "That includes students, parents, educators, law enforcement, EMS, corrections, healthcare workers — and all of their family members."

The numbers tell a story of urgent need

In FY2024, SafeUT received:

• 27,000+ chats from students, parents and faculty
• 2,296 reports of bullying
• 1,199 suicide-related concerns
• 8,985 private tips, including:
• 456 threats of violence
• 152 weapons threats
• 150 campus threats

From these interactions, 499 individuals required emergency intervention, prompting law enforcement and EMS involvement.

"Maybe to us at that moment, as adults, it may not be a crisis," Ballesteros said. "But to that individual, it is — and that is what matters."

Real lives, real impact

Ballesteros recalls one unforgettable moment at a high school outreach booth.

"A student walked around the booth, hesitant. When no one was around, they came back and said, 'I want to thank you. This service saved my life,'" Ballesteros said.

The student had been suicidal in middle school, feeling unheard and unsupported. After bringing a weapon to school to show friends they were serious, those friends alerted their parents, who used SafeUT to notify school administrators. Immediate intervention followed — and it changed everything.

"That child said, 'Now, I have the power to be what I want to be. I want to help people just like you helped me,'" Ballesteros said.

SafeUT isn't just for kids in crisis — it can be a lifeline for parents navigating tough conversations and late-night worries.

"Sometimes parents may find themselves dealing with kiddos who aren't sleeping, aren't eating, or are just going through a lot," Ballesteros said. "Our counselors are here to provide support. They're master-level professionals who understand the need and are more than happy to help."

And for parents unsure how to start those difficult conversations?

"We have conversation starters," she added. "So when you're talking to your kiddos, you feel like, 'Oh my gosh, SafeUT is actually here to support me.'"

With Utah's new statewide ban on cellphones in schools, SafeUT has ensured students can still access help through Chromebooks via Canvas. If your district hasn't enabled this feature, SafeUT wants to hear from you — it is ready to help make it available.

"We don't care how old you are. We don't care what's going on," Ballesteros said. "If something in your life is causing you to feel overwhelmed, or if you don't know what to do — please, please connect with us. You're never alone."

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