Nebraska’s largest children’s hospital, Children’s Nebraska, opened a youth-focused behavioral health care facility on its Omaha campus, becoming the first in the state to offer walk-in services for people age 20 and younger. The facility is among the leaders nationally to offer this range of services on a single campus. According to the state Health and Human Services Department, at least 10 percent of Nebraska high school-age youth reported attempting suicide in the past year. The $114 million facility was funded by donor contributions and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 following the COVID pandemic.
Integrated Crisis Services
Acute Behavioral Health Services Director Amy Pugsley explained that professionals at the new center offer immediate on-site crisis assessment and can respond with the appropriate level of care. The center operates as “behavioral health urgent care, so someone can really come in with a self-defined crisis, just like if you were taking your kiddo to an urgent care visit for a medical reason.” The clinical assessment team evaluates each child and determines whether they need in-patient or outpatient treatment, family therapy, or on-the-spot counseling that could allow them to return home the same day.
Comprehensive Care Team
Children’s Nebraska offers a unique continuum of care that allows kids with behavioral health issues to find help even if not admitted to the hospital, through its crisis stabilization unit. Pugsley stated that “we have therapists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, nurses, behavioral health tech specialists and peer support specialists that are all working as a team to help them in that moment.” She emphasized that “the continuum of care that includes crisis stabilization and urgent care is brand new in the state of Nebraska,” representing a significant advancement in youth mental health service accessibility for the state.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://kiowacountypress.net/content/nebraska-hospital-opens-unique-youth-mental-health-facility