Taylorsville is now home to a nearly $100-million, state-of-the-art youth mental health crisis facility, at a time when suicide remains a leading cause of death for children in our state.

Amanda Choudhary is president of the new Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital-Taylorsville Campus. (Photo courtesy Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital)

The new, 90-thousand-square-foot Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center (5770 S. 1500 West) had a ribbon cutting filled with dignitaries in late August – and opened its doors to patients just after Labor Day. One of those doors will never shut.

“Our walk-in Crisis Center inside the new facility will be staffed 24 hours per day, every day of the year,” Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital-Taylorsville Campus President Amanda Choudhary said. “If a child is in crisis, parents can bring them in without phoning ahead. Our first concern is their child. We’ll help determine a course of action and work through any insurance questions once that child is out of crisis.”

The shiny, new $96 million Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital-Taylorsville Campus has opened its doors to patients. (Photo courtesy Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital)

Choudhary has a second part to her title, also serving as leader of the behavioral health service line for Intermountain Children’s Health. She reports, the most common forms of child mental health crises are severe depression – often including suicidal ideation – severe anxiety, or – frequently with small children – a severe tantrum, sometimes lasting three to four hours.

“In addition to the Crisis Center, our new facility has increased the number of in-patient beds we now have available from 23 to 36,” Choudhary continued. “We have also created more space for parents, a meditation room, a café and a Ronald McDonald House Family Room.”

Rachel Glade (L) has received medical care from Primary Children’s Hospital off-and-on for all 23 years she’s been alive. She and her mother Teresa (R) were among the guests at the recent Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital-Taylorsville Campus ribbon cutting. (Photo courtesy Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital)

The 1,500-square foot Ronald McDonald House room includes showers and places for parents to sleep, short-term.

Hospital officials report construction of the $96-million center was accelerated with the help of a $25-million state appropriation. The rest of the construction cost was funded largely through philanthropic donations to Primary Promise, Intermountain Health’s historic campaign to build the nation’s model health system for children.

Constructed on the former Wasatch Canyons campus, this much larger, new center has also created 100 new jobs in Taylorsville. Their total number of employees is now 450.

Like many states, Utah continues to experience a pediatric mental health crisis. Hospital officials report, two years ago 23% of our state’s high school students seriously contemplated suicide while another 37% reported feeling sad or hopeless. Last year, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital behavioral health programs assisted more than 10,000 kids – with even more expected to be served this year.

Teresa Glade has been familiar with the care Primary Children’s Hospital provides for more than 20 years. She and daughter Rachel were also on hand for the ribbon cutting.

Taylorsville City Councilwoman Anna Barbieri, Mayor Kristie Overson and Councilman Curt Cochran (L-R) were among the elected dignitaries on hand for the recent ribbon cutting at the new Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital-Taylorsville Campus. (Photo courtesy Taylorsville City)

“Just hours after Rachel was born, on May 11, 2002, she had to be flown to Primary Children’s Hospital at the U of U because she was struggling to breathe,” Glade said. “She was in their newborn ICU for 4½ months and has had a number of other medical issues throughout her entire life.”

Now 23 years old, Rachel Glade has “aged out” of being cared for at the new Taylorsville facility. But her mother did play an active role in the new center’s creation. 

“I was invited to serve as a parent volunteer and advisor on the architect and design team for this new facility,” Teresa Glade added. “I was impressed with how well they listened to family member suggestions. For one thing, it was my suggestion they create an outside balcony on the third floor because these kids need to get sun. The finished building is so beautiful. They have so many big windows facing the mountains. Calming, happy colors were chosen. Primary has served my daughter well in so many ways over the years. I know they will continue serving many more kids in need at this center.” As for the new $96-million, 90-thousand-square-foot facility being located in Taylorsville, Mayor Kristie Overson considers her city to be the perfect location.

“Primary Children’s Hospital up on the U-of-U campus is a wonderful facility – but so far out of the way for many people,” she explained. “This new facility is much more centrally located. I attended the ribbon cutting and toured the new center. I love that it is set up to cater to entire families at a time when they need support. Primary and Intermountain are such top-notch organizations. We are thrilled to have them in Taylorsville.”    

Inside the brand-new 90-thousand-square-foot Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital-Taylorsville Campus is a 24-hour mental and emotional crisis center. (Photo courtesy Taylorsville City)