What We've Been Doing to Help Nebraskans in 2020


Nebraska Strong Recovery Project

The Nebraska Strong Recovery Project is a collaboration between the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, six State Behavioral Health Regions, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Crisis counselors around the state offer outreach, crisis counseling services, and resources to Nebraskans during COVID.

Zero Suicide Academy

In collaboration with the Education Development Center, we hosted 14 organizations to promote safer suicide care and to reduce rates of youth suicide through the development of organizational policies and practices for suicide prevention and postvention policies.

Suicide Prevention in Long-Term Care Facilities

We are working with DHHS on implementing suicide prevention strategies for staff in long-term care facilities during COVID by preparing trainers in the evidence-based life-saving practice of Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) and releasing new resilience material tailored for their use. Additionally, we are inviting communities to apply for mini-grants to support suicide prevention.

Behavioral Health Trainings

Center staff are partnering with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to offer Zoom trainings on behavioral health-related topics through the next several months. Last month’s training with Dr. Catherine Jones-Hazledine focused on maximizing clinical effectiveness using telehealth. The next training features Dr. John Herdman and focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for those with substance use disorders.

Focus on Forensic Mental Health

The PPC is partnering with the UNMC Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) to offer a four-part series of trainings on forensic issues relating to behavioral health. Part I included training from Dr. Lynn Van Male on promoting healthcare provider safety. Part II focused on mental health courts with Judge Lerner-Wren. Part III will feature Dr. Jacqueline Landess and Dr. Brian Holoyda discussing patients and prisoners and the evolving role of correctional psychiatry.