Steve Eliason, MBA, CPA, is the inaugural Senior Director of Behavioral Health Policy at Huntsman Mental Health Institute. He has long been a valued partner, advocating for expanded mental health legislation as a member of the Utah House of Representatives. In this role, Steve serves as a liaison with the University’s government relations team, external stakeholders, and advocacy organizations. His work helps shape public policy and improve mental health outcomes across Utah and beyond.
Steve is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive behavioral health policy agenda that aligns with the institute’s strategic goals. He collaborates with leaders across the university and the academic health system to promote and enhance our services. Additionally, he identifies and delivers key metrics related to policy impact and works with our communications team on public policy issues related to mental health.
Steve brings extensive experience to this position. During his tenure in the Utah House of Representatives, he sponsored over 40 pieces of legislation focused on mental health. In 2018, he served as co-chair of the Governor's Teen Suicide Prevention Task Force and continues to serve as a trustee for Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) America, a nonprofit dedicated to helping mental health providers counsel patients on reducing access to firearms and other lethal means. He has presented to organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, Mental Health America, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and has received numerous awards for his advocacy. Steve helped establish both our ZERO Suicide Initiative and the Collaborative Care Program (CoCM). He is also a proud alumnus of the University of Utah and a former adjunct faculty member.
