Central Nebraska — Nebraskans are being urged to seek emotional support at relief centers near areas affected by the wildfires.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is offering various ways to talk to a trained crisis professional over the phone or in-person.
Dr. Thomas Janousek, Director of the Division of Behavioral Health, says for ‘Immediate Assistance,’ dial 988 to gain access to mental health crisis resources.
Dr. Janousek says farmers, ranchers and first responders need to recognize signs and symptoms of emotional distress and seek help.
He says it’s also possible for symptoms to surface later…
Verbatim: “In a lot of cases, where as sometimes people may not have a reaction right away, maybe in 3 months, maybe in 6 months, particularly in a year, you might notice that you’ll start noticing signs or difficulties with the events. Those reactions, those realizations can be very traumatic. So don’t be surprised if it doesn’t continue to persist if you notice these feelings months or even years from now. It’s okay to still reach out for help on that. It’s okay to still process it, and we’re here to help in any way we can.“
Dr. Janousek says DHHS has reached out to a number of local providers who are offering a combination of tele-counseling or on-site resources.
On Tuesday, March 24, crisis counselors are available at the Ogallala NACO Building, 102 Diamond Springs Trail, Ogallala, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. CST
More information about behavioral health services is available at dhhs.ne.gov