There’s a large effort that Huntsman Mental Health Institute is taking on — and it’s just the beginning of their process. The Huntsman Institute is working with other organizations and businesses with a communal goal of improving the treatment and culture of those who struggle with mental health.

“All we are talking about is another organ in the body that needs to get fixed,” said Mark Rapaport, CEO of Huntsman Mental Institute.

The organizing efforts with community based organizations, businesses, and government organizations — also schools and religious institutions include Utah System of Higher Education, Encircle, Nami, and the Salt Lake Chamber.

Huntsman Mental Institute CEO Mark Rapaport says as long as people think that mental illness is a character flaw and not a health condition — it will never get the research, treatment and care that is properly needed.

“In fact somebody with schizophrenia dies 25 years before someone without it dies,” Rapaport said. “Not because of it but because they don’t get medical treatment.”

The goal is to build a unified strategy and movement with these community stakeholders. Huntsman Mental Health Institute is looking to host pilot projects and identity new success models that we can use to conduct more research into how to de-stigmatize mental illnesses.