DHHS News

Patients May Now Get Medical Cannabis with Recommendation Letters

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) announced changes to the Utah Medical Cannabis Program which will allow more patients access to medical cannabis. Under House...
Last updated: March 25, 2020

First COVID-19 Death Reported in Utah

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and Mountainstar HCA today announced the state’s first COVID-19-related death. At the time of their death, the patient was...
Last updated: March 22, 2020

New Case of COVID-19 in Summit County Signals Community Spread

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Summit County Health Department (SCHD) today announced a new case of COVID-19 that is the first instance...
Last updated: March 14, 2020

Summit County Resident is State’s 3rd Case of COVID-19

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Summit County Health Department (SCHD) today announced the state’s third case of COVID-19. UDOH epidemiologist Keegan McCaffery...
Last updated: March 11, 2020

WIC Assistance is Available to All Who Meet Income Eligibility

WIC is NOT included in the federal government’s final “public charge” rule and is available regardless of immigration or citizenship status (SALT LAKE CITY)—Many immigrants in Utah are questioning how...
Last updated: March 10, 2020

2nd Case of COVID-19 Announced in Utah

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Weber-Morgan Health Department (WMHD) today announced the state’s second case of COVID-19. The patient resides within the...
Last updated: March 10, 2020

Media contacts

For media inquiries, contact our on-call Public Information Officers (PIO) at:

Joe Dougherty, director of communications

News releases and media statements

Spanish news releases and media statements

We strive to provide all news releases and media statements in Spanish. Our language access team can provide translation services by contacting them at languageaccess.utah.gov.  

Our graphic and writing standards

Our agency name is the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Use DHHS if an acronym is needed. 

  • DHHS graphic standards—This guide outlines how to use our logo, colors, fonts, and imagery in printed and electronic media. 
  • DHHS logos 
  • DHHS writing style guide—This guide creates clear and consistent language and tone across all written products, both internal and external to our agency.

Media guides and safe messaging

How we talk about suicide, mental health, and traumatic events matters. When we follow safe messaging guidelines, we contribute to a hopeful narrative about triumph over adversity. We communicate that support is available. Safe messaging promotes resiliency, encourages help-seeking, publicizes prevention successes, and encourages actions to help prevent suicide. 

When writing about suicide, mental health, or traumatic events follow safe messaging guidelines. Here are some of our favorite resources.