IVINS, Utah (KUTV) — Utah’s youth mental health crisis continues to impact families across the state — including here in Washington County, where suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among teens. Recently, a string of deaths by suicides have rocked the community as mental health providers, advocates, and parents question what more could be done.
Rosalyn Sugahara never thought she’d be one of those parents.
Her 14-year-old son Shazan, died by suicide last October. He was the second oldest of six kids, a ukuele player, a scooter trickster and a peacemaker in his neighborhood.
"He was such a happy, outgoing, talented boy," Sugahara said. "But, no matter how much people told him he was amazing, he had a hard time believing it."
After moving to Utah from Hawaii, Sugahara said