Huntsman Mental Health Institute at University of Utah

What people who were there remember

What people who were at Huntsman Mental Health Institute at University of Utah, or had a child there, told us on our questions page. Under each line are their own words.

Levels and phases

• The program used a four-level system plus an insight level. Basically, there's four levels plus insight. When you first get there, you are on level one normally. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents moved up a level every 24 hours. You move up every 24 hours. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• On level one, residents who got dropped had no free time and only thirty minutes during meals in the common area, and no off-unit privileges. Level one: if you get dropped it means no free time and only thirty minutes during meals in common area. No off unit. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• On level two, residents had free time but still no off-unit privileges. Level two: you have free time. Still no off unit. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• On level three, residents could go off-unit, had free time, and could play video games and use the on-unit guitar. Level three: you can go off unit. You have free time. You can play video games and use on-unit guitar. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• On level four, residents could call a friend with parental permission, got a prize from the prize box, and stayed up an extra 30 minutes. Level four: you can call a friend with parents' permission. You get something from the prize box like a prize coupon, snacks or ramen. You also get to stay up an extra 30 minutes. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Rules

• Residents were not allowed to wave at kids on other units. - No waving at kids on other units. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents were not allowed to talk about the past or their problems except for group. - No talking about the past or your problems except for group. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents were not allowed to glorify being hospitalized. - No glorifying being hospitalized. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents were not allowed to engage in staff bashing. - No staff bashing. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents with exposed scars had to wear arm sleeves, or hospital socks with a hole cut in them if sleeves were out. - No having exposed scars, wear arm sleeves, and if they are out of arm sleeves they cut a hole in hospital socks and you wear those on your arms. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents were not allowed to talk to anyone on insight. - No talking to anyone on insight. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents were not allowed physical contact. - No physical contact. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Punishments

• Residents were dropped a level for safety events such as restraints, self-harm, going AWOL, contraband, passing notes, or exchanging contact information. You get dropped if you have a safety event like any restraint, any self-harm, AWOL, contraband or passing notes or exchanging contact info. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents lost points for smaller offenses like refusing, which could cause them to lose a level or fail to advance. You also can lose points for smaller offenses like refusing, and if you lose too many points you can lose level or not go up a level. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• The insight level was a form of punishment, normally given for being readmitted or for fights. And insight: so this is basically punishment. You normally get on it for being readmitted, although some get on it for fights. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents on the insight level were not allowed to talk to peers, go to groups, or leave their room, and were given busy work. Anyways, no talking to peers or going to any groups. They give you busy work. You can't leave your room. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026
• Residents on the insight level could not talk to staff outside of the questions asked and wore scrubs. Also no talking to staff outside of the questions they ask. You also are normally on scrubs. This is punishment for being readmitted. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Therapy and seminars

• Residents spent one hour and thirty minutes inside their room doing core writing, writing two pages a night about a prompt. Also we have something called core writing and we spend one hour and thirty minutes inside our room writing two pages a night about the prompt. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Daily life

• Residents were required to wear scrubs until they shared their life map and received a doctor's order to wear clothes. You are in scrubs until you share your life map (what happened in your life and why you're here) and then get a doctor's order to have clothes. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Admission and fees

• The program accepts kids as young as four years old. Also I'm pretty sure HMHI takes kids as young as four not five, but they wouldn't allow me to submit with 4. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026