Safeut
ID U-6319
Category Digital Health
Subcategory App
Researchers
Brief Summary
Mobile app that connects students with a licensed clinician through real-time chat features for confidential suicide/crisis intervention services. Also allows students to send confidential safe school violation tips to school administrators.
Problem Statement
Almost 6,000 youth aged 15 - 24 commit suicide each year in the United States. Resources exist to help these youth, but all too often the lack of anonymity or the need to place a call prevent youth from reaching out.
Technology Description
SafeUT allows students to connect with counselors anonymously through text or web chat. All interactions are handled by licensed clinicians based on professional standard of care. The SafeUT app can also be used to send tips to school officials regarding bullying, gang activity, drugs, alcohol, and more. All communications supported by SafeUT are completely anonymous, which increases the likelihood of reporting and allows schools time to respond to issues.
Benefit
- Facilitates suicide prevention and crisis intervention.
- Offers real time, secure, confidential, two-way texting.
- Provides access to licensed mental health professionals 24/7/365.
- Allows confidential reporting of safe school violations through the tip function.
Publications
Woods, B. (2016). New statewide crisis line puts help in the palm of students’ hands. SafeUT: Free mobile application links youth with professionals. Salt Lake Tribune.
For more information regarding SafeUT, please visit the University Neuropsychiatric Institute SafeUT page at https://healthcare.utah.edu/uni/clinical-services/safe-ut/.
Contact Info
Jonathan Tyler
801-587-0515
jonathan.tyler@utah.edu