Mental Health Utah pitches entertainment‑based trainings and film festivals to county as stigma‑reduction strategy

Representatives from Mental Health Utah — introduced on the record as Steven Heumann (presenter) and Josh Sampson (presenter) — presented a program that pairs education with entertainment to reduce stigma and build community capacity. Josh Sampson said the group is shifting from primarily entertainment-centric activities to more structured educational work with workshops, a mentor course and materials that connect people to resources.

Sampson outlined two main program tracks: brief “lunch-and-learn” sessions (about 50 minutes) and half‑day workshops (about four hours), plus PSAs, educards and film/music events meant to broaden public engagement. He said the organization can train county employees to be local mentors and can partner with cities and schools to deliver programming. "We're trying to reach out to lots of different communities because there's not a community in Utah that couldn't use this kind of conversation," Sampson said.

Commissioners asked what, if anything, they would be asked to approve or fund; staff and presenters said the organization could partner at varying levels and that some county support might be requested in future budget cycles. No funding decision was made at the work session; staff clarified work-session presentation does not authorize county expenditures and that any partnership or contract would be brought forward for formal approval if the commission decides to pursue it.