Intermountain Children’s Health dedicated the new Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center–Taylorsville Campus last Friday, marking a significant advancement in pediatric mental health services for Utah families.
The 90,000-square-foot facility represents a $25 million investment from the State of Utah and philanthropic donations, addressing the growing need for specialized behavioral health services for children in a state where suicide remains a leading cause of death for youth, according to Intermountain Health.
Why it matters
The facility substantially expands capacity with 50% more inpatient beds and features family-centered overnight rooms where parents can stay with their children, enabling comprehensive care for more families, as highlighted in Intermountain’s announcement.
“This new facility is just incredible for the community. I think it’s an opportunity to actually serve more children that are in our ERs every single day,” said Francis Gibson, President and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association.”The Utah Hospital Association is dedicated to seeing that we work with our hospital partners and our communities to make sure we’re treating our young people who have mental illness.”
The big picture
The new Taylorsville campus provides crucial services, including a 24/7 walk-in crisis center for immediate access. This comes at a critical time – in 2023, 23% of Utah high school students seriously contemplated suicide, and 37% felt sad or hopeless, according to data shared by Intermountain Health.
According to Intermountain Health, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has increased its behavioral health programs by 78% and served 40% more kids in the past five years, helping more than 10,000 children in 2024 alone.
“We are dedicated to paying attention to the health, the physical and emotional behavioral health of our young people – our most precious resources. The $25 million investment in the people of Utah represents the best of who we are, and this new facility will provide children with integrated, robust care and meet their individual needs,” said Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson.
Bottom line
The Primary Children’s Behavioral Health Center represents a major step forward in addressing Utah’s pediatric mental health crisis, reflecting a societal shift toward recognizing and treating mental health conditions with the same importance as physical health.
The center will open to children and families on Saturday, September 6, according to Intermountain Health.