The need for a clinic such as this one is great, according to Darin Carver, assistant clinical director at Weber Human Services. Carver added that Utah has higher rates of mental illness than most states, ranking sixth in the nation when it comes to deaths by suicide.

According to the latest statistics from the Utah Hospital Association, less than half of all adults with any form of mental illness have received treatment or counseling. In addition, Kaiser Health News, shows one-in-10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety and/or a depressive disorder since May 2020.

“Serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and recurring severe depression are debilitating, can be life altering and life ending,” Carver said. “There are very few people in the state who understand that there is a very real equality issue in behavioral health treatment. The loudest cries are for more access to treatment, but more access to treatment that is less effective is not going to solve this problem.”

Oftentimes, individuals suffering from these illnesses are seen by general practitioners, clinicians who may be treating a wide array of illness — more like a family doctor, Carver said. Individuals treated in the specialty clinic will be treated with by professionals with focused training in research-based treatments proven to be effective.

“More than half of all adults, youth and children treated in publicly funded behavioral health centers never recover,” Carver said. “Yet with an emphasis on quality, an emphasis Weber Human Services has held for more than a decade, we’ve proven that can be changed.”

Carver said that for more than a decade, Weber Human Services has led all other publicly funded behavioral health centers in Utah in the percentage of clients who improve and recover from their mental illness. These differences are statistically significant and not small.

“Individuals treated at Weber Human Services are 25% more likely to recover and improve over other urban treatment centers in Utah. You shouldn’t have to cross a county line to get better treatment, yet these most effective treatments are rarely implemented effectively in other areas,” Carver said.

The effective implementation of evidence-based treatments for mental illness, including those that will be offered in the specialty clinic, does make a difference to communities, Carter added.

“It can’t just be about access to care, it has to be about access to quality care through treatments that work,” he said.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Carver said Weber Human Services has seen more mental health complaints. However, those with serious mental illness are most vulnerable to the extreme negative impacts of the pandemic.

“What is critical here, is that the quality of treatment people will have as they access the Weber Specialty Clinic will be consistent, regardless of the circumstances associated with the pandemic,” he said

The Weber Specialty Clinic will open its doors on Monday. Hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. No referral is necessary.

To qualify to be seen at the clinic, a screening and assessment will be conducted to determine if a person has a serious mental illness that needs aggressive treatment. Individuals must also have Medicaid or Medicare as their primary insurance. You can call 801-625-3700 to make an appointment. The 24-hour crisis number is 1-800-273-8255.