Lincoln, NE – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month as a time to familiarize yourself with mental health and substance use services in Nebraska.
The mission of DBH is to provide leadership and resources for a system of care that promotes and facilitates resilience and recovery for Nebraskans. DBH provides oversight for community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services for all six behavioral health regions in Nebraska.
“Access to mental health services is essential to cultivate stronger, more resilient communities capable of addressing the unique needs of all Nebraskans,” said Dr. Thomas Janousek, Division of Behavioral Health Director. “Our goal is to remove as many barriers as possible for people seeking access to help. Informed community members help us carry out our mission and can be the strongest advocates to direct people toward assistance.”
The DBH Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) actively supports customers and providers in the field of recovery and hosts community events for members of the public to learn about providers and support resources in Nebraska. The DBH OCA offers the following tips and resources:
When speaking to an individual looking for help:
- Listen. Let them lead the conversation at their own pace. Repeat what you hear them say.
- Offer reassurance. You are not alone. We all go through tough times and overwhelming circumstances. Seeking help is not a weakness. It demonstrates self-awareness.
- Be patient. It might take several discussions before professional care is utilized.
- Eliminate distractions. Set your phone down and focus on the individual.
- Be nonjudgmental. Avoid confrontation. Do not try to diagnose or problem solve.
- Ask open-ended questions. Be curious about understanding their fears.
- Bring it all together. Offer future support, assistance in contacting a trusted individual, or support to access professional care.
Mental Health Resources in Nebraska
| 988 | Access mental health and substance use crisis response, suicide prevention response, crisis de-escalation, and connection to local care and treatment resources.
Call or text 988, or webchat at 988lifeline.org
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| Same Day Scheduling and Walk-In Access
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Same Day Scheduling – Call the regional behavioral health provider and schedule an appointment for the same day.
Walk-In Access – Walk in and obtain an immediate appointment. Locate assistance in your behavioral health region.
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Same-Day-Open-Access.aspx
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| NARCAN | Access NARCAN nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose.
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| Network of Care | Find numerous resources in your zip code to assist you with housing, recovery, employment, healthcare, transportation, education, respite, legal services, food, clothing, mental health services and facilities, and more.
https://portal.networkofcare.org/NebraskaBehavioralHealth
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| Nebraska Family Helpline | Raising kids is hard. Call 888-866-8660 any time and for any problem to receive help. Few topics parents most often call about include bullying, out-of-control behavior, family relationship problems, and not following the rules.
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Family-Helpline.aspx
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| Peer Support | A peer support specialist is a person who is trained to use their personal lived experience and recovery with mental health or substance use to mentor others who want to achieve recovery. Through DBH you can be trained to work with kids or adults.
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Peer-Support-Training-Certification.aspx
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| Recovery Friendly Workplaces | The DBH Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Program provides free training on tactics for employers to create a workplace environment supportive of mental health and substance use recovery for employees. Organizations designated as RFWs provide resources and guidance on structure and how to encourage the success of all employees.
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Recovery-Friendly-Workplace-Initiative.aspx
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