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Nebraska's Mental Health Crisis: Who's Responding?

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, November 15th 2025 at 15:36 GMT by PBS

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Nebraska’s Mental Health Crisis: Who’s Responding?

The short, but hard‑hitting video aired by PBS NewsHour’s Nebraska affiliate in October 2023 takes viewers straight into the heart of a crisis that has long been hidden in plain sight: the state’s rapidly deteriorating mental‑health infrastructure. With a mixture of personal stories, expert analysis, and policy‑level discussions, the program paints a picture of a community in need and a network of responders—state officials, local nonprofits, and grassroots activists—working to fill the gaps left by under‑funding and outdated systems.

A State‑wide Snapshot

The piece opens with stark statistics that set the stage. Nebraska’s suicide rate, which has climbed from 10.8 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 14.5 per 100,000 in 2022, now places it in the top ten states nationwide. Moreover, the state’s National Violent Death Reporting System data shows that the majority of these deaths involve individuals under 45, many of whom had a known history of depression or anxiety but had not accessed professional care in the months leading up to their deaths.

The segment also touches on a more recent spike in calls to the state’s suicide prevention hotline—an increase of nearly 30 % over the past year, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). “The volume of calls has outpaced our capacity to respond effectively,” DHHS director Dr. Maria Valdez notes on screen. Her interview frames the problem as one of infrastructure rather than just awareness, underscoring that many families and communities still rely on outdated emergency rooms and crisis centers that lack mental‑health training.

The Human Stories Behind the Numbers

The program does more than crunch data; it brings the crisis to life through interviews with people who have lived it. One segment follows Jordan Ellis, a 26‑year‑old graduate student from Omaha who lost his brother to suicide last spring. Ellis recalls a night in a downtown emergency department where a doctor, “I don’t have the resources or training to help you,” told his family. His brother had been calling the suicide hotline for weeks, but the last call went unanswered for 48 hours due to a staffing shortage.

Another poignant narrative centers on Linda Martinez, a community nurse in rural Nebraska’s eastern panhandle. Martinez explains how the closure of a county hospital in 2018 left a vacuum for crisis services. “Now we’re the first line of response for everything from psychosis to overdose,” she says, her voice resonant with exhaustion and resolve.

These human vignettes underscore a common theme that the show emphasizes: the mismatch between the rising burden of mental illness and the shrinking pool of resources.

The Players on the Ground

The PBS segment delves into the various organizations and individuals stepping up to fill the void:

1. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

DHHS is working to streamline the referral process for the state’s Psychosocial Services Program (PSP), which offers mental‑health services to low‑income residents. Dr. Valdez outlines an upcoming budget request that would allocate an additional $4 million toward hiring 20 new mental‑health counselors in high‑need counties. “We’re also investing in tele‑mental‑health to connect rural patients with specialists in Omaha and Lincoln,” she says.

2. The Center for Hope

A non‑profit based in Omaha, the Center for Hope has launched a Crisis Response Corps—a volunteer program that trains laypersons in basic mental‑health first aid. The video showcases a training session where participants learn how to de‑escalate a crisis situation and refer individuals to professional help. “We’re not replacing the professionals,” says CEO Alex Huang, “but we’re giving people the tools to act before the crisis escalates.”

3. The Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (MHAC)

Formed last year by former patients, families, and clinicians, MHAC has been lobbying for a state‑wide Mental Health Act that would overhaul licensing requirements for private practitioners and expand the scope of mental‑health services covered under Medicaid. The segment includes a brief interview with coalition founder, Dr. Riya Patel, who emphasizes the need for a “holistic, community‑based model” rather than an emergency‑room‑centric approach.

4. Local Universities

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Nursing and the College of Psychology are partnering on a research initiative to track the long‑term outcomes of patients who transition from inpatient care to community programs. The PBS video features a quick clip of students conducting fieldwork at a county crisis center, collecting data that will inform evidence‑based practice.

Legislative and Policy Implications

A pivotal part of the program centers on the legislative arena. In early 2024, the Nebraska Legislature introduced Bill 1284, a bipartisan effort aimed at increasing funding for mental‑health services by 15 % over the next five years. The video intercuts statements from Representative Tom Bennett (R‑Lincoln), who champions the bill as “the next step in addressing a crisis that’s been quietly growing for decades,” with testimonies from affected families who argue that the “current budget simply doesn’t exist to keep our people safe.”

Critics, however, caution that the bill’s allocation would still fall short of the 40 % increase advocated by mental‑health advocates. “We’re asking for incremental changes,” says Representative Lisa Muir (D‑Omaha), “but the scale of the crisis demands more radical solutions.”

The segment concludes by summarizing the three‑fold strategy the state is adopting: (1) expanding crisis hotlines and tele‑health services; (2) training community volunteers; and (3) passing comprehensive legislation to overhaul funding and service delivery. The underlying message is clear: Nebraska’s mental‑health crisis cannot be contained by a single solution; it demands a coordinated, multi‑sector response.

Key Takeaways

1. Rising Numbers: Nebraska’s suicide and mental‑health hospitalization rates are increasing, especially in rural areas with limited access to care.

2. Infrastructure Gap: Existing crisis centers are often understaffed, under‑funded, and ill‑equipped to handle complex mental‑health emergencies.

3. Community Response: Local nonprofits and volunteers are filling critical gaps through training and outreach programs.

4. Policy Momentum: The state legislature is moving toward increased funding and new regulations, but debates over the scale of investment remain.

5. A Call to Action: The segment ends with a direct appeal to viewers—"If you’re in crisis, call 988," and "If you can help, volunteer,"—encapsulating the urgency and potential for collective action.

In a concise, compelling format, the PBS program pulls back the curtain on Nebraska’s mental‑health landscape, offering viewers not just a narrative of crisis but also a roadmap for solutions that involve government, nonprofits, and the community at large. The piece underscores a fundamental truth: the battle against mental illness is not fought in hospitals alone but in the streets, classrooms, and living rooms where people live their everyday lives.