DHHS News

2025 Utah Mass Fatality Conference

You’ve probably seen a mass fatality event dramatized on TV or in a movie. But have you ever wondered what would happen if this were to happen in real life...
Last updated: May 21, 2025

Newborn Safe Haven law change to help more newborns

(Salt Lake City, UT) Beginning May 7, 2025, the Utah Newborn Safe Haven law will allow parents or a parent’s designee to give up custody of their newborn 90 days...
Last updated: May 7, 2025

La ley “Refugio Seguro para el Recién Nacido”cambia ayudando a más recién nacidos

(Salt Lake City, UT) A partir del 7 de mayo de 2025, la ley de refugio seguro para recién nacidos de Utah (Utah Newborn Safe Haven) permitirá a los padres...
Last updated: May 7, 2025

Utahns encouraged to take action to prevent tooth decay

Talk to a dentist, doctor, or pharmacist about fluoride supplements Salt Lake City—The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with other healthcare experts, want to make sure...
Last updated: May 1, 2025

Se anima a los habitantes de Utah a tomar medidas para prevenir la caries dental

Hable con un dentista, médico o farmacéutico sobre los suplementos de flúor Salt Lake City—El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Utah (DHHS), junto con otros expertos de la...
Last updated: May 2, 2025

DHHS and dental community to host in-person media availability on fluoride care options

What: The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host an in-person media availability with dental providers to discuss the impact of House Bill 81 Fluoride Amendments and...
Last updated: May 1, 2025

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.