Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — Two years after the nation adopted a three-digit suicide prevention line, a new Nebraska law will offer clear interface between mental health and other emergency providers.
The 988 number was established in July 2022 as a nationwide, 24/7 suicide prevention line, which is available to anyone experiencing a mental health-related crisis. The prevention line “serves Nebraskans from all walks of life” and connects them to free, trained, confidential care and support, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Call volume increased in the second year, between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, by 22.5% from the previous fiscal year, to 22,409 calls.
Before implementation in 2022, the Boys Town National Hotline in Omaha was the call center for the Suicide Prevention Hotline. It now handles 988 calls as well as the Nebraska Family Helpline.
“988 is an impactful mental health resource to Nebraska and across our nation,” said Tony Green, interim director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’s Division of Behavioral Health “No situation is too tough, complex or far gone for you to reach out for help. Remember you are not alone, help is available and effective.”
Approximately 94% of calls received through the prevention line are being deescalated and managed by Boys Town crisis counselors without activating a Mobile Crisis Response Team according to DHHS. About 1.04% of calls resulted in activation of those teams, the department added, which are available statewide and can assist in person, via telehealth or over the phone.
988-911 connectivity
A new state law that took effect Friday authorized DHHS and the Public Service Commission to ensure 988 can route calls to or receive calls from 911 service operators.
In most instances before, 988 could direct calls to 911, but the reverse wasn’t the same. The legislation, brought by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, was included in Legislative Bill 1200 this spring.
“This helps ensure Nebraskans in crisis are getting the right services for their circumstances,” Fredrickson said in a text.
The DHHS news release said the department already helped pilot 911-988 connections earlier this year. In March, DHHS collaborated with the Lincoln Emergency Communications Center. And on July 11, Sarpy County launched as a 911-988 partnership pilot site.
“These pilot programs are a vital component to link Nebraskans with community-based services to effectively reduce the reliance on law enforcement and hospital services during mental health crises,” the news release states.
A spokesperson for DHHS said the department will establish pilot sites in each of the state’s six behavioral health regions to test protocols in urban, rural and frontier areas of Nebraska. The outcomes will be used to better expand 911-988 interoperability statewide and with the Public Service Commission.
Additional 911-related legislation from Fredrickson and State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, passed in LB 1031, will speed up the transition to next-generation 911 services and require the Public Service Commission to host public hearings within 90 days of 911 service outages.
Additional support is available
The department recommends these numbers for individuals or their loved ones in times of crisis:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call, text or chat 988.
- Local faith-based leaders, health care professionals or campus health centers.
- Nebraska Family Helpline — 888-866-8660
- Rural Response Hotline — 1-800-464-0258
- Disaster Distress Helpline — 1-800-985-5990 (oprime dos para Español) or text TalkWithUs to 66746
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
- National Child Abuse Hotline — call or text 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4AChild)
- National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 (1-800-656-HOPE)