Emergency rooms have long been where people dealing with mental health crises go for support, but they are not the most comfortable, warmest, or even calmest place to go for those who are already struggling. Nor are they equipped to best help people in a mental health crisis. The Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center was built to change that. Located in South Salt Lake, the Center offers 24/7 walk-in crisis care for adults in need of immediate mental health stabilization, support, and connection, whether that’s in the form of outpatient or inpatient care.
Why the Mental Health Crisis Care Center Stands Apart
The Mental Health Crisis Care Center is structured with purpose. Rather than sending people in crisis to crowded emergency rooms or correctional settings, the Center provides a calm, compassionate place to get support for mental health needs of all kinds. Inside is a 30-chair receiving center, a 24-bed inpatient unit, and other kinds of support, including:
- Outpatient care
- Pharmacy support
- Lab services
- Legal consultation
- Addiction treatment
It’s important to note that the Mental Health Crisis Care Center is open to anyone, whether they are Utah residents or not. Huntsman Mental Health Institute operates and oversees Utah’s full public crisis care system. It is the only academic health center in the country that brings together clinical care, suicide prevention and research, crisis response, and education within a single interconnected system. The goal? To provide not only treatments for mental illness, but also to promote faster resilience and create hope for all guests.
The Need for Mental Health Support
There is a national need for mental health support in the United States. In fact, nearly 30 million adults and children living in the US go without treatment despite having mental health conditions. Today, up to one in eight emergency room visits are related to mental health issues or substance use. Looking at Utah specifically, it consistently ranks among the top 10 states for suicides. Forty-one percent of primary care patients have a mental health diagnosis of some kind, and approximately 700,000 adults in Utah have a mental health condition. Put into perspective, that’s over three times the number of people who live in Salt Lake City.
Within the first 12 months of opening, the Mental Health Crisis Care Center served 9,500 people experiencing mental health crises, including guests from 25 of Utah’s 29 counties. The Center’s crisis stabilization service is operating at 106 percent capacity, while the inpatient service is at 99.6 percent capacity.
Importantly, the Mental Health Crisis Care Center also reduces pressure on law enforcement and hospitals. With an average drop-off time of under 5 minutes, law enforcement can quickly connect individuals to the care they need. Without the Center, law enforcement officers report they would not know where to take someone in a mental health crisis 28 percent of the time.
Across Huntsman Mental Health Institute, the scale and continuum of care continue to grow and improve. In fiscal year 2025, the Institute served 62,533 guests from 46 states. That’s a 55% increase from 2024. It also supported an amazing 114,460 calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 8,640 mobile crisis interactions, and 34,966 Utah Warm Line calls.
The Mental Health Crisis Care Center represents hope and a place where people can go for welcoming, immediate care with dignity. To support this work, donate to Huntsman Mental Health Foundation. For open naming opportunities available within the building, please reach out to Huntsman Mental Health Foundation at info@hmhf.org.
