Nebraska will be joining 35 other states in a Governor’s Challenge to prevent suicide among veterans, service members and their families.
“In 2020 we had 50 veterans that died by suicide in Nebraska and the next year we had 37. One is too many, says Sheri Dawson, director of behavioral health for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. “This about getting help earlier in the crisis.”
Governor Pete Ricketts says Nebraska is joining 35 other states in a Governor’s Challenge to try and prevent suicide. Ricketts says the state’s veterans and mental health officials have begun meeting to put a plan in place. “Pull the team together, plan our strategy, figure out what are those action steps and how we are going to measure success.”
Ricketts says it will be a two year effort and the planning stages will begin this year. Next year they will get into the implementation steps. A crisis hotline is available to offer immediate help. It’s 1-800-273-TALK.