28% surge in youth mental health needs: New director’s community listening tour seeks solutions

The new Mental Wellness Alliance Director at the Summit County Health Department, Anna Frachou, leading efforts to strengthen mental health collaboration and access. Photo: Anna Frachou

PARK CITY, Utah—With a career spanning healthcare, strategic partnerships, and community advocacy, Anna Frachou is stepping into her role as the new director of the Mental Wellness Alliance at the Summit County Health Department. Her mission is to strengthen collaboration and improve access to mental health resources.

Frachou, who has worked in healthcare system expansion, physician staffing, and social-emotional learning initiatives, said her lifelong passion for mental wellness drove her to the position.

“I, like many others, have experienced mental health very personally and very closely,” she said. “Understanding how taking care of my mental health changed my life dramatically for the better and has fueled my passion for this work.”

Her background includes leading network development and tele-health expansion for the University of Utah Health, directing strategic alliances at WGU Academy, and serving as vice president at Global Medical Staffing, where she worked to address physician shortages domestically and internationally. Since moving to Park City in 2017, she has also been involved in the local nonprofit sector, serving on boards and mentoring youth.

In her new role, Frachou is prioritizing a “listening tour” to connect with community members and mental health stakeholders.

“I have more questions than I do answers, but that’s because the answers are really going to come from the community,” she said. “I want the Alliance to be sustainable, address pressing needs, and align the community around a common goal.”

One of the most urgent challenges, she said, is the rising level of distress among youth.

“The levels of youth under distress continue to increase year over year,” Frachou said. “One of the organizations I met with said they saw an increase in the youth they serve increasing 18% one year and 28% this last year.”

She also identified access to mental health services and substance use issues as critical concerns. She envisions the Alliance as a space where service providers, community members, donors and organizations can enhance collaboration, leverage resources, and increase efficiency in addressing mental health needs.

“I see myself as a facilitator of the alliance, encouraging and coordinating our efforts,” she said. “Everyone wants a space to collaborate and learn from one another, and I want to help take that to a deeper and more meaningful level.”

A key component of the Alliance’s strategy will be raising awareness.“The role of the Mental Wellness Alliance is to help facilitate increased access and maximize the services we have,” Frachou said. “Mental wellness is something we should all have at the top of our minds—if it’s not us, it’s someone we personally know.”

She encouraged residents to get involved by supporting local mental health organizations, checking in on loved ones, or reaching out to the Alliance directly. “I would love everyone to find a way to support this work,” she said. “Whether it’s through their own mental health journey or by helping a friend, family member, or organization, everyone can play a role.”

More information about the Alliance and upcoming events will be available through the Summit County Health Department.