After a year of research, the results of the Nebraska Mental Health & Substance Use Research Study are now available.  The results were initially made public at the 2nd Annual Nebraska Mental Health & Substance Use Statewide Convening on October 1 and are now finalized and available here.  A summary brief is also available here.

The study highlighted 14 key takeaways.

  1. The System Exists on Paper – But Not in Practice
  2. 88 of 93 Counties Are Behavioral Health Deserts
  3. Stretched Too Thin: A Workforce at Risk of Collapse
  4. Medicaid Expansion Improved Coverage – But Challenges Remain
  5. Emergency Rooms Have Become Default Mental Health Providers
  6. Breakdowns in Referrals = Breakdowns in Care
  7. Families Are Doing the Work — But Burnout is Growing
  8. Where You Live, and Who You Are, Shapes the Care You Receive
  9. Youth Mental Health Is a Crisis We Can’t Ignore
  10. The Stigma Hasn’t Gone Away — It’s Just Evolved
  11. Behavioral Health Without Housing, Food, or Transportation Isn’t Behavioral Health
  12. Jail Has Become the Fallback Provider for Behavioral Health Care
  13. Primary Care as the Front Door: Integrating Behavioral Health to Expand Access
  14. Progress Starts with New Ideas – And the Resources to Try Them

At the convening, attendees were able to provide feedback on the results and discuss next steps.

The study is the foundation of the action of the Nebraska Behavioral Health Coalition that is co-lead by Nebraska Cures and NAMI Nebraska and is facilitated by Category One Consulting.  In 2026, workgroups will begin tackling the findings of the study.  Stay tuned!