LINCOLN, Neb. The Nebraska Strong Recovery Project is offering mental health resources to Nebraskans impacted by severe weather.
The Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services started the project in collaboration with the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities in response to the tornadoes and severe weather that impacted many Nebraskans in April. The project provides free, confidential counseling in person and virtually to Nebraskans who are having difficulty coping with events in relation to severe weather.
“Stressful events, such as experiencing severe weather, leave behind impacts that reach beyond property damage,” Dr. Thomas Janousek, the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health, said. “Abnormal or tense events can cause individuals, their families, coworkers, or friends to experience a wide range of emotions that can be challenging to understand and process.”
As the holiday season approaches, feelings of distress after a natural disaster may increase one's emotional distress or stress, so DHHS and Nebraska Strong Recovery Project invite anyone who is feeling alone in those thoughts to reach out.
Nebraskans can find services through the following options:
- The Nebraska Strong Recovery team is available every Wednesday, 10 a.m. - Noon at COPE in Elkhorn, NE and every Thursday, 10 a.m. - Noon, at First Lutheran in Blair, NE.
- The Region 6 Nebraska Strong Recovery team is available to provide counseling, engagement activities, referrals and help finding additional resources. Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call 402-444-6573.
- Call/Text 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
More information on the Nebraska Strong Recovery Project can be found here.
Services are funded through a Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) grant provided through a partnership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).