In a concerted effort to address the mounting mental health challenges facing its residents—particularly youth—Murray City’s Partners 4 Prevention coalition has relaunched with renewed vigor and community-wide support.

Spearheaded by the Murray Chamber of Commerce and backed by over 40 board members and 24 key leaders, the coalition aims to build long-term solutions through early intervention and strong local partnerships. “With a request from the County Health Department, we revised the Murray Coalition—Murray Partners 4 Prevention—under the foundation created by the Murray Chamber of Commerce,” said Sheri Van Bibber, director of the coalition. “We have been extremely lucky to have 40 strong board members and 24 key leaders in the city that are active and passionate about creating a healthier, more inclusive city.”

At the heart of their strategy is the Communities That Care (CTC) framework, a data-driven approach designed to build resilience and reduce risk factors in youth. “We are following the Communities That Care process, and so much of what we’ve done has been about building the framework for the work we will do,” Van Bibber said. “However, we’ve known that mental health challenges are a concern from the very beginning.”

Key partners include the Salt Lake County Health Department, the Murray City School District, and a diverse representation from sectors like education, healthcare, law enforcement and business. The coalition meets monthly at the Murray School District to share state and county data and align efforts across the city.

Mental health among youth remains a core concern. “Our partnership with Murray City School District enables us to have some insight into the mental health challenges of our youth, specifically using data points like the SHARP (Student Health and Risk Prevention) survey,” said Van Bibber. “At this point, we have a strong partnership with the District’s Sources of Strength programs in their three secondary schools.”

Isolation, particularly post-pandemic, has emerged as one of the coalition’s key concerns. “Isolation is more damaging to our youth than smoking,” Van Bibber emphasized. “COVID really kicked it off and our youth and residents became very comfortable retreating behind closed doors and electronic devices. Yet data is currently showing that youth (and people) are craving attachment and the need for interaction, and are turning the curve to become
more involved.”

Sierra Marsh, board chair of the Coalition and a social worker with the school district, also highlighted youth engagement and the strength-based approach: “We know our youth are incredibly resilient. It’s a matter of leveraging the strengths in the community to support the individuals who need it.”

Plans are also underway to expand community training, including the introduction of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention strategy during Suicide Prevention Month in September. “Talks are in the works for a few things,” Van Bibber said, noting that increasing awareness and equipping residents with simple tools to intervene can have a substantial impact.

The Coalition’s upcoming focus includes using updated SHARP data—expected in fall 2025—and local zip-code-filtered health statistics to drive decision-making. “There have been statistics that have surprised even
our youth on the board,” Van Bibber said. “There are areas where Murray ranks higher in some issues than any other city, and our goal is not to hide in the sand like it doesn’t
happen here.”

Looking ahead, the Coalition is committed to building what Van Bibber calls “community connectivity.” She points to a new initiative, Main Street Murray, as a symbol of the coalition’s vision. “Between Main Street, the city, the school district and the Chamber of Commerce, we hope to bring our residents and business partners together to support each other with open arms.”

With deep roots in Murray and a broad base of support, the Partners 4 Prevention coalition is aiming to become more than just a mental health initiative—it’s striving to create a culture of connection, support
and resilience.

“Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for events happening in the city and resources with tools to help when our residents are looking for ideas,” Van Bibber said. “It will take time to make the needle move, but we are building a system where people know they have a place and a voice in Murray.” λ