Where to find help for suicide and mental health crises in Omaha

OMAHA - Anyone who is struggling, or worried about someone, can call, text or chat 988 for free, confidential support from trained crisis counselors 24 hours a day, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. There is hope, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says: round-the-clock support works, and the Lifeline helps thousands of people get through a crisis every day.

Help is available

People do not have to be suicidal to reach out, the 988 Lifeline says. Reasons to call include substance use, money worries, relationships, illness and loneliness. Spanish speakers can dial 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988. TTY users can dial 711, then 988.

DHHS notes that 988 is not 911. In a medical emergency or immediate danger, call 911, Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare and the National Institute of Mental Health say.

Who is at higher risk

Suicide has no single cause, according to the CDC, NIMH and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and people of all backgrounds can be at risk. It is a leading cause of death for people 10 and older. In 2024, 48,824 people in the U.S. died by suicide, and an estimated 14.3 million adults seriously thought about it, CDC says.

Rates are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people, followed by white people, CDC says. Veterans, rural residents and workers in jobs such as mining and construction also have higher rates, and young people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual are more likely than their peers to have suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Being connected to family and community support and having easy access to health care can reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors, CDC says. The agency says suicide can be prevented, and NIMH says evidence-based programs and treatment can help.

How to help

Writing about veterans, the VA says many people in crisis may not show signs that they intend to harm themselves, though some actions and behaviors can signal a need for help. It urges relatives, friends and neighbors to learn those signs and start a conversation, saying doing nothing is the only wrong choice.

Anyone worried about a loved one can contact 988 for guidance, CDC says.

If local units are full

These options do not depend on an open hospital bed:

• Call or text 988. Nebraska's 988 call center received more than 35,000 contacts in fiscal year 2025, and only 324 led to a mobile crisis response, DHHS says. The department says that means talking with a counselor avoided a mobile crisis response or emergency room visit more than 99% of the time.
• For a child or teen, the Crisis Assessment Center at Children's Nebraska, 8550 Indian Hills Drive, is open 24/7 to walk-ins from birth through age 19, with no appointment or referral needed. Phone: 402-955-4710. After 7 p.m., use the after-hours entrance beside the main doors.
• For parents and caregivers, the Nebraska Family Helpline, (888) 866-8660, is available 24/7. DHHS lists suicidal behavior, depression and bullying among the top reasons parents call.
• For same-day care, Region 6 posts a list of Nebraska providers that offer same-day scheduling or walk-in behavioral health services, and its staff can help connect people to services. Its office, 402-444-6573, keeps weekday business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; for a crisis, Region 6 says to dial 988.

In a Jan. 6, 2026, release, Children's Nebraska said its Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, which includes a 24/7 crisis assessment center and 40 private beds for pediatric inpatient hospitalization, would open its doors Jan. 7. A Nov. 7, 2025, UNMC report said many Nebraskans still struggle to get care because of provider shortages and long wait times.

Where to get help, 24/7

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org
• Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. It serves veterans, service members, Guard and Reserve members and those who support them; VA enrollment is not required.
• SAMHSA National Helpline (free, confidential treatment referral and information): 1-800-662-HELP (samhsa.gov)
• Disaster Distress Helpline (distress after a disaster): call or text 1-800-985-5990 (988lifeline.org)

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 any time.

Source: Nebraska DHHS (988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Nebraska Family Helpline); 988 Lifeline, Get Help; SAMHSA (988, helplines); CDC (About Suicide Prevention, resources); NIMH, Suicide Prevention; VA (Suicide Prevention, Veterans Crisis Line); Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare; Children's Nebraska (Behavioral Health Crisis Assessment, Jan. 6, 2026, release); UNMC, Nov. 7, 2025.