We've closed our Doors



WE'VE CLOSED OUR DOORS


CONNECT has been privileged to serve our community alongside a dedicated team of employees, community partners, and supporters who have tirelessly championed our cause. Together, we have made significant strides in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing crucial support to those in need.


Thank you for your unwavering dedication, passion, and generosity. Your support has allowed us to touch countless lives, offering hope, compassion, and resources to individuals and families facing mental health challenges. We are immensely grateful for every moment you've spent, every dollar you've donated, and every ounce of energy you've devoted to our mission.


Thank you. 



If you need mental health support, please see the list of resources below. 


Nationwide Mental Health Crisis Hotline - 988 

Emergencies - 911 

Crisis Line - (801) 587-3000 

Suicide Hotline - (800) 273-8255

 Summit County Sheriff’s Office - (435) 615-3601 

Utah Warm Line - (833) 773-2588


PARK CITY, UT — Sept 30 2023 — The Board of Directors of CONNECT, the Summit County-based nonprofit

organization committed to mental health awareness and stigma reduction, today announced it will be closing its doors

effective September 30.  “In a myriad of ways we have succeeded in our original mission, which was to increase mental health

awareness in Summit County,” said board member Kathryn Meyer. “When we began, we were one of the only voices

in the nonprofit space committed to this work. Happily, today there are a number of organizations offering our

community critical and timely mental health support and services. Heading into Live PC Give PC, we felt it was the

right time to step aside,” Meyer added.


CONNECT has been a community leader in the mental wellness arena since its formation in 2016. During its

tenure, CONNECT’s programs and events have mobilized and supported the community to have honest — and often

difficult — conversations about such issues as depression, anxiety, alcohol and substance use, grief, and suicide

awareness. 

   

Also speaking on behalf of the organization, board member John Hanrahan, M.D., said, “We are immensely

grateful for the support and contributions from our donors, partners, staff, and volunteers, each of whom has played a

pivotal role in normalizing conversations about mental health. As responsible stewards of the resources, funding, and

hours we've received from our amazing community members and partners, the board has made the difficult but

healthy decision to wind down our programming and operations.”


CONNECT has helped hundreds of clients to access counseling and various forms of therapy, and, through

its financial assistance program, to connect people with services they might otherwise not be able to afford. Through

its peer navigation program, it has served as a valuable liaison matching individuals, spouses, families, friends, and

employers with necessary mental health services. It has also offered a number of support groups for parents of

children with mental health issues, and for people grieving the death of a loved one. CONNECT also invested in

collecting complex information via open-source data, community assessments, and feedback surveys. It conducted a

Mental Health Attitudes and Access Survey as well as supported the Summit County Health Department’s Annual

Provider Survey and Community-Wide Assessment. In support of Mental Health Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, CONNECToffered a variety of free programming ranging from free film screenings, trainings, meditation and mindfulness

experiences, community discussions, and featured speakers. State of Mind, CONNECT’s annual mental health

symposium, brought together panels of experts to engage with community members in an exploration of

various topics affecting mental health. CONNECT also convened the annual Ask Me Anything panel consisting of

high school students from throughout Summit and Wasatch County high schools openly discussing their struggles

with anxiety, depression, alcohol use and more.


CONNECT’s Executive Director Julya Sembrat said, “We want to emphasize that even though our doors are

closing, the work and mission are still relevant. We are actively working to merge our resources and assistance

programs into other partnering organizations to ensure the continued impact in reducing the stigma of mental health

issues; enhancing mental healthcare access and affordability, and continuing to convene and administer the Mental

Wellness Alliance.”New Paragraph

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