STATE OF UTAH

GARY R. HERBERT OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SPENCER J. Cox
GOVERNOR SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

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March 6, 2019

Dear Taryn,

I am very sorry to hear that you have decided to resign from the Suicide Prevention
Taskforce. I know the taskforce, myself included, has valued your input, expertise, and
dedication to helping us seek out solutions to support Utah teens and prevent suicide.

I am anxious to ensure that these precious youth of limitless potential and boundless
worth are loved and accepted for who they are. Our shared goal of reducing teen suicide
should remain our primary focus and objective.

In this matter, I have felt that it is very important that our youth need better
access to trusted professionals and people they can talk to about their identity and feelings. I also
think it?s important to protect the rights of parents in counseling with their children in these
sensitive matters.

I know these are dif?cult and emotional issues, but I am, and have been, striving to learn
and better understand these issues in order to help achieve the best policy to protect and support
Utah?s children.

I am so grateful for your work to prevent suicide in our state. This is such an important
public health concern for us that affects far too many families in our community. I would like to
learn more from you directly about What we can do to help. To that end, I invite you to meet with
me regarding your speci?c concerns.

By working together in good faith, we can develop good policy for Utah.

espectfully,



Gary R. Herbert
Governor