UPDATE: Mental health group to host fundraiser with Lincoln police, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office

UPDATE:

Police officers encounter mental health issues everyday on the streets..

And because they get people help, one organization wants to give back.  By putting up a special memorial.

The Mental Health Association of Nebraska wants to build the memorial for fallen law enforcement officers.

They’re holding a forum and fundraiser to help get it done.

“There were a lot of times when people that we came across really didn’t meet any criteria for being hospitalized, nor did they really have any reason to take them to jail,” Sgt. John Walsh said.  “And it was kind of hard to leave them out there, kind of suffering and having issues and not being able to find somebody to help them.”

Now, police have several channels to steer a person toward help.  They said it benefits the community and helps keep families intact.

The Mental Health Association said it wants to give back with a memorial honoring fallen officers.

They’re co–hosting their upcoming Aspiring Heroes event to help raise money for it.  It will include vendors, a speech from former Husker DeMoine Adams and a community discussion on mental health.

“If you’re not coming for the food or for the shopping, I think it’s really important to come together as a community to address mental health” said Lindsey Wagaman of the Mental Health Association of Nebraska.

The event is on Saturday, Feb. 16th at Christ Lutheran Church.  Tickets are $20 and are on sale now.

If you would like any more information about the event, including how to buy tickets, call Lindsey Wagaman at (402) 875-0422 or lwagaman@mha-ne.org

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

An event that can be fun for the family as well as serve as a forum for mental health issues is coming up in a few weeks.

It’s also a fundraiser for a memorial a group wants to build for fallen law enforcement officers.

Lindsey Wagaman of the Mental Health Association of Nebraska said they want to build the memorial to thank the Lincoln Police Department and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for the work they do to help people experiencing mental health issues.

“Rather than taking them to jail, they give the Mental Health Association of Nebraska a call,” Wagaman said.  “And within 24 hours, peers are able to meet with that individual and link them up with different resources in the community.”

Wagaman said  they’re hosting their Aspiring Heroes event.  It’s a fundraiser in a few weeks to raise money for the memorial.

It will include vendors, a speech from former Husker DeMoine Adams and a community discussion on mental health.

“If you’re not coming for the food or for the shopping, I think it’s really important to come together as a community to address mental health,” Wagaman said.

The event is on Saturday, February 16th at Christ Lutheran Church.  Tickets are $20 and are on sale now.

If you would like any more information about the event, including how to buy tickets, call Lindsey Wagaman at (402) 875-0422 or lwagaman@mha-ne.org