(Lincoln, NE) -- Governor Pete Ricketts announces Nebraska is joining a nationwide initiative to improve the mental health of service members.
"This is an effort with regard to suicide prevention among service members, veterans, and their families," says Governor Ricketts.
Through the 'Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families' program, lead by the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs (NDVA) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the state looks to identify gaps in mental healthcare and suggest how Nebraska can improve their mental health services.
"If you broke your arm, you go to the doctor," says Ricketts. "The same thing is true with regard to mental health. When you've got mental health issues, we've need to go see a doctor. That's part of what we're gonna be looking at, is how can we make sure those services are more available for our active duty military, veterans, and their families. That's what this is all about."
Nebraska is the 35th state to take part in the initiative.