Utah's SafeUT crisis app, a chat and tip line backed by the University of Utah and used by students and school staff, could be headed for a nationwide debut after a decade in operation, officials said at a 10-year celebration in Salt Lake City. Lawmakers and program leaders cast the effort as a way to share a homegrown model they say has helped prevent suicides and disrupted safety threats at schools across the state. They signaled that a federal bill is in the works to let other states adopt the system, although the timeline and the money to pay for it are still question marks.
State Rep. Steve Eliason told attendees he is working with U.S. Sen. John Curtis to "take the SafeUT technology national" and said a bill will be rolled out soon, according to KSL NewsRadio. Eliason credited the platform with contributing to declines in suicide rates and with helping to thwart possible school attacks, comments that helped set the policy agenda for what comes next. Program officials noted that the legislation is still being drafted and that specifics such as funding and interstate agreements have not yet been disclosed.
SafeUT's own numbers show heavy use. The program's dashboard lists roughly 203,340 chat messages, 80,658 tips submitted, 329,624 downloads, and 2,760 documented emergency interventions as of June 1, 2025, according to data published by SafeUT. The app launched in 2016 and has since been adapted into three versions: the original student-facing app, SafeUT Frontline for first responders and health care workers, and SafeUT National Guard. That expansion pushed the platform beyond K-12 settings, and those usage figures are central to the case program leaders say they will present to lawmakers and potential partner states.
How SafeUT Connects Students To Help
The app lets students, parents, and school staff start a confidential chat with a licensed counselor or submit an anonymous tip by phone, app, Chromebook, or the web at any time, and counselors can route high-risk situations to schools or emergency responders when needed. Counselors are master 's-level clinicians employed by the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, which operates SafeUT as part of University of Utah Health's behavioral health services, according to University of Utah Health communications.
What Lawmakers And Program Leaders Are Saying
At the anniversary event, Dave Eldredge, executive director of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, described SafeUT as "an entire system of care" rather than just an app, and Rep. Eliason framed the potential expansion as a way to tackle stigma and access barriers that keep young people from seeking help, according to KSL NewsRadio. Their comments came as university and state officials pointed to the app's role in crisis prevention and as momentum builds for a federal vehicle that would allow other states to opt in to the platform.
Funding And Rollout Still Up In The Air
Officials say one of the biggest practical hurdles to expansion is money. Scaling the SafeUT model nationally would likely require an alternative to state general funds and a durable way to pay for counselors and the technology that keeps the system running. Rep. Eliason has previously urged that national crisis systems include funding mechanisms beyond state budgets, an argument he made to crisis policy groups while advocating for 988, as he told CrisisNow in a recent interview.
Local Gains That Built The Case
Advocates point to Utah's broader investments in behavioral health and crisis services as the backdrop for SafeUT's growth. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute has expanded integrated behavioral health programs and new crisis care capacity in recent years, milestones the institute says have improved access to same-day care and stabilized thousands of patients. Those program milestones and the 10-year framing were highlighted in institute releases and press coverage as evidence that the app sits inside a larger safety net for Utah youth and school communities, according to Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
Lawmakers and Huntsman Mental Health Institute leaders say the next few months will show whether SafeUT's model can be translated into a replicable national program, but for now, the app remains a free, confidential resource for Utah students and staff. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, SafeUT is available at SafeUT, and anyone in crisis can call or text 988 for urgent support.
