The new Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center, Taylorsville Campus just opened in September but is already having a major impact on patients, families, and the entire community.
Utah, like many states, is experiencing a pediatric mental health crisis.
In 2023, 23 percent of Utah high school students seriously contemplated suicide in 2023. Nine percent had attempted suicide, and 37 percent felt sad or hopeless.
Now, thanks to the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center, Taylorsville Campus, there’s now help – and new hope – for children and families in crisis.
The new Behavioral Health Center in Taylorsville is a state-of-the art 90,000-square-foot facility that was made possible by community donations and a $25 million investment from the state of Utah. It’s dedicated to helping children and teens in crisis.
The new Center was built on the former Wasatch Canyons campus, located at 5770 South and 1500 West in Taylorsville, which, since its construction in the 1980s, has served thousands of children in need of behavioral health support.
The new Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center is a state-of-the art, family-centered facility that features:
Patient rooms where parents can stay overnight with their child.Family-friendly perks like spacious waiting rooms, a café, and an outpatient pharmacy50 percent more inpatient beds that can be adapted to each child’s needs.Large outpatient spaces with natural light, quiet rooms, and sensory spaces.A new Crisis Walk-In Center, which is always open.
The new center also includes:
The statewide Assessment, Referral, Consultation Service (ARCS). This is a free service line that helps families find behavioral health resources, schedule an appointment, and more. Call 385-478-2400.The Stabilization and Mobile Response program. This is a free service, which sends a professional to your home to help your child or teen. Call the Utah Crisis Line by dialing 988 or use the SafeUT app.
Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has been working to create more mental health services for kids. In the past five years, it has increased the number of behavioral health programs by 78 percent. It also has helped 40 percent more kids in that time frame.
Last year, these programs helped more than 10,000 kids. They expect to help even more kids this year.
“We all have mental health, and no child or family is alone in their mental health journey,” said Amanda Choudhary, president of the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center – Taylorsville, and leader of the Pediatric Behavioral Health service line for Intermountain Children’s Health.
“We’re in this together. Every child deserves to be healthy and have a place where they can get the help they need,” opportunities to receive the care they need,” said Amanda Choudhary, president of the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center – Taylorsville, and leader of the Pediatric Behavioral Health service line for Intermountain Children’s Health. “There are many care options available, families can choose the one that fits their circumstances.”
For information about behavioral health services, visit primarychildrens.org/behavioralhealth.