Author
A month into 988, call volumes up, but state behavioral health infrastructure isn’t
A month ago, on July 16, the nation and Nevada launched 988, the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connecting people in emotional distress to 24-hour, 7-day-a-week free and confidential support. It was step one in creating the nation’s first comprehensive crisis behavioral health care system based on having someone to call, […]
Guideline is 1 social worker for every 250 students. NV schools have 1 for every 8,730.
As the first week of school comes to a close with a shortage of nearly 3,000 teachers in the state, Nevada faces another staffing shortage in its education system — mental health professionals. The state would need 35 times as many school social workers, 3.7 times as many school psychologists and twice as many school […]
Substance abuse conference focuses on state’s increased fentanyl overdose rates
Community experts discussed the impact of fentanyl on Nevada’s opioid epidemic at the third annual Southern Nevada Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Summit Wednesday. The conference hopes to break down silos between key providers and implement best practices for budding health concerns in the community. “It’s so important that we both learn from other agencies […]
Racist practices in health care can cause medical trauma, PTSD
Note: This story mentions suicide. As of July 16, 9-8-8 is the new, nationwide three-digit hotline phone number for Americans to call when they or someone they love are in crisis and need to be connected with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. Glahnnia Rates was a thriving 32-year-old public health professional last autumn. […]
Grant helps state launch rural mental health pilot program
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services launched a new virtual mental and behavioral health pilot program Wednesday with 11 law enforcement agencies in the state through a $3.8 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. There are 3.1 million people across Nevada spread over 110,567 square miles, which […]
Nevada building behavioral health infrastructure, starting with new 988 hotline
Nevada, which continues to rank at the bottom of all states in access to care and high prevalence of mental illness, faces an uphill battle in creating a comprehensive crisis care system that will accompany the new 988 mental health line. The deadline is in six weeks. Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act […]