Huntsman Mental Health Institute Marks 40 Years of Service and Five Years Since Dedication

With over 78 years of educational prowess in the Department of Psychiatry, the institute at 501 Chipeta Way, along with its predecessor, the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), has significantly influenced mental health care in Utah. Currently, the Huntsman Mental Health Institute stands as a prominent academic mental health center, offering inpatient, outpatient, crisis, community, and specialty care to individuals of all ages throughout the Mountain West.

James Ashworth, MD, interim chair of the Department of Psychiatry and psychiatric medical director of the institute, stated, “For decades, our clinicians, researchers, educators, and staff have worked to expand access to mental health care, develop innovative treatments, train the next generation of providers, and provide hope and healing to individuals and families. We are grateful for how far we’ve come and inspired by what lies ahead.”

The institute's journey began in 1986 with the opening of the Western Institute of Neuropsychiatry (WIN) at 501 Chipeta Way, marking one of the nation’s first public-private partnerships in mental health care, facilitated by the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry. In 1994, the university acquired the facility, officially establishing UNI and setting the stage for decades of clinical service, research, and educational growth.

“This milestone is an opportunity not only to celebrate our progress, but to recognize the visionary leaders and clinical teams who built the foundation for our success,” remarked Dave Eldredge, LCSW, chief administrative officer of the institute. “Their work transformed lives and established our institute as a leader in mental health care, research, and education.”

Over the past 40 years, the institute has initiated and expanded numerous nationally recognized programs, fundamentally changing how mental health care is provided. These include:

- Utah’s statewide crisis system

- The SafeUT crisis support platform

- Comprehensive assessment and treatment services for adolescents

- Integrated behavioral health in primary care clinics

- Treatment programs for individuals with complex and treatment-resistant conditions

- Specialized services for older adults

- Youth residential treatment

- Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy

- Intensive outpatient programs for patients of all ages

The institute offers expert mental health care through its primary hospital, specialized and community clinics, integrated behavioral health services within University of Utah Health, statewide crisis initiatives, and outreach programs.

A transformative phase began in 2019 with the Huntsman Family Foundation's announcement of the $150 million gift, leading to the official renaming of UNI to Huntsman Mental Health Institute in January 2021. This change unites clinical care, research, education, and community engagement under a shared vision aimed at enhancing mental health understanding and improving patient outcomes.

As it looks to the future, the institute welcomes Laura B. Dunn, MD, as the new chair of the Department of Psychiatry. Recognized nationally for her contributions to academic psychiatry, Dunn will collaborate with faculty, staff, trainees, researchers, and partners across the University of Utah to further innovative care, research, and education.

“The Huntsman family’s unprecedented gift builds on a remarkable legacy while accelerating our vision for the future,” said W. Brett Graham, MBA, MPA, institute president. “Together with the University of Utah and the State of Utah, we are driving innovation, expanding access to research-supported care, and creating a stronger mental health system for generations to come.”