Working Hand-in-Hand to Heal Our Communities
Mental health impacts us all in a very personal way. In our own families, we likely have a story of mental illness, substance use, or suicide. Our hope for the community is to deepen our understanding of mental health and brain health, find real solutions for those suffering from mental illness, and stand up to the associated stigma and discrimination. It starts by sharing our stories, dispelling misinformation about mental illness, and having compassion and empathy.
When our family decided to commit resources to mental health, it was an easy decision to make. There’s so much we don’t understand about the brain. Our gift to support mental health and establish Huntsman Mental Health Institute was made with the intention to transform lives. Giving the gift was the easy part. Now we need to roll up our sleeves and work together to create a model to improve mental health here in Utah that other states can replicate. Mental health is a big, complicated, challenging problem, and it’s going to take a lot of resources, smart people, and committed partners coming together to find solutions. We’re thrilled that our state leaders, partners, the University of Utah, and others are all working together to open new doors in mental health care.
At the end of the day, we have to focus on people— particularly families dealing with mental illness who don’t have access to help or resources. Please join us in delivering hope and healing to people across our state and across the nation.
David Huntsman
President and COO, Huntsman Foundation
Christena Huntsman Durham
Executive Vice President, Huntsman Foundation