A new report gives Nebraska a positive review for its operation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline but identifies shortcomings in two crucial areas.

The mental health advocacy group Inseparable rated all 50 states on the three-part model of response. The 988 call centers address the first part, "someone to talk to." On parts two and three, "someone to respond" and "a safe place for help," Nebraska comes up short, according to the report.

Grace Manley, Nebraska area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, agreed with the assessment, especially when it comes to rural Nebraska.

"A lot of people out in rural Nebraska have to drive two to five hours -- and even more in some places -- to get to a hospital that can really serve them in a mental health crisis," Manley pointed out. "The need is massive."

Inseparable's report stated Nebraska needs 18 more mobile response teams and a combination of nearly 200 more short and long-term "beds" for people needing inpatient care. Manley argued the Legislature needs to understand this disproportionately affects rural Nebraska, where "people are at a loss when it comes to resources."

Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, said too often there are tragic outcomes when people do not get the right help, including the one in five police shootings which involve someone having a mental health crisis. She argued the states implementing mobile crisis response teams and crisis stabilization services have proved the right response works.

"We can avoid the expense, the trauma of emergency departments, of jails, of law enforcement involvement," Kimball contended. "And really give people help when they need it most."

Manley emphasized a common misperception is the 988 system uses "geolocation," which is a capacity the system does not have.

"When someone calls 988, they can stay as anonymous as they would like and they do not have to reveal their location," Manley stressed. "You do not have to fear police showing up at your door or something like that, like would happen with 911. So feel free to call 988. You are safe to stay anonymous."

Inseparable said 988 centers should be answering 90% of calls received in-state. In May, Nebraska answered 87% of 2,300 calls, and 988 centers nationwide answered 88% of nearly 388,000 calls.

Indiana families are preparing kids for back-to-school season, and mental-health experts say emotional readiness is just as important as school supplies.

Beth Trammell, a psychologist and professor at Indiana University East, said kids often carry anxiety into the new school year. She encouraged parents to help children identify those fears.

"We as parents or caregivers think, 'Don't worry, or don't stress.' Instead, we might want to say, 'OK, well, let's talk about what it is you're worried about. What is the worst thing you think could happen?' If we draw it out of them," she said, "it may give them space to kind of let that out."

Helping kids feel heard can reduce stress. But experts also urge balance, keeping mornings calm, easing into routines, and not overloading schedules the first few weeks.

Nicole Brady, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare, said mental-health support should remain a priority throughout the year.

"Though we want our kids to be involved in activities and be social," she said, "we have to watch their academic performance, their mood, those sleep patterns, and making sure that those are staying healthy."

Brady added that parents should talk regularly with kids, model healthy coping and seek help early if warning signs appear.


get more stories like this via email

After a legislative session which opened doors to expand mental health care services across Montana, a state commission said it is considering the Billings area to build the state's second forensic facility.

For people involved in Montana's justice system whom a judge has deemed not mentally fit for their own defense, there are 53 beds in the state's only forensic facility in Galen. The daily waitlist hovers at about 100 people.

Matt Kuntz, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Montana, said it is not meeting the immense need.

"It's just a really bad situation for the people that are in the jails, for the people that are caring for them, for the taxpayers," Kuntz outlined. "It just doesn't work for anybody."

At a recent commission meeting, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton said the state is identifying a location for a new facility. The department received nearly $27 million from the state in April to fund project planning.

Kuntz noted the Montana Legislature passed many bills this session centered on mental health care.

"We really were able to get big wins in access to outpatient care, access to crisis care and for people in need of forensic hospital," Kuntz explained. "Overall, it was really an amazing legislative session for Montanans with mental health conditions."

Other mental health legislation will boost school-based services, youth in residential care, the state's 988 crisis line and certified community behavioral health clinics.


get more stories like this via email

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed to support medical services.

Advocates said they are puzzled because the governor has championed the helpline for years, and lawmakers approved $3 million from a separate fund dedicated to mental health, which does not affect the deficit.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said it is still operating 24/7, for now.

"We're holding on for the next month or so," Pion-Berlin pointed out. "But we need the state to step up, or one of these well-off philanthropists who cares about having that immediate help for emotional support, which is so vital."

Advocates are hoping funding can be restored via a budget trailer bill in the next few weeks. People can call or text and reach the helpline's trained counselors at 877-427-2736. The free helpline has connected with more than 120,000 people since its inception five years ago, and the website CAParentYouthHelpline.org has reached a million more.

Pion-Berlin noted a study in the Journal of Technology in Human Services found a call to the helpline can quickly ease parents' suffering and feelings of isolation.

"The research said that 85% of the callers in less than 30 minutes feel more positive, more hopeful and able to address their issues," Pion-Berlin reported. "There is no other service or pill I know that can do that in 30 minutes or less."

Parents Anonymous also offers free weekly support groups to steer parents and kids through emotional crises of all kinds.