______________________________________________________________________________

626 E Zodiac Drive

Salt Lake City, UT
801-407-2983

Jennifer Thomas
Director of Teaching and Learning
Utah Board of Education
250 E 500 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-628-2356

March 21, 2020

Dear Ms. Thomas:

I am writing to you to express our deep concerns with the lack of mental health education taught
in the city of Salt Lake. We want the Utah Board of Education (USBE) to enhance the
curriculum of high schools for mental health awareness. It is very important throughout all
stages of life and for healthy decision making.

Our research suggests that if we add a mental health curriculum to high school courses, it will
reduce the dependency for medication and also help treat conditions that aren’t noticed by peers
and family members. According to Child Trends, adolescents “ages birth to 17 have lived with
someone who is mentally ill or suicidal.” Often children don’t realize when mental illnesses
arise. For example, a recent report of a mother who has intermittent explosive disorder (IED)
lashed out on her son and he blamed himself for this mistreatment, not knowing that she is
suffering from a mental illness. Education will help the acknowledgement of issues in the home
and school that are important for the health of Utah citizens.

“Prevalence quartiles are 27%” (American Medical Association). Utah has the highest percent
for mental illness in children, this is also why we are urging the need for proper requirements for
mental health education to be given in all Utah health classes.

We work to serve the health and wellness of the American society by providing additional
opportunities for treatment. We will proceed to create courses on the very basis of mental health
and how to treat conditions in ways that are unique to the individual. Please take this note into
consideration, it is very important for the people of Utah.
Sincerely,

Leader of Mental Health Education

Jessica Ralston