‘Don’t ever hesitate to call’: Lincoln 911 call center partners with suicide hotline

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln-Lancaster County 911 call center is partnering with 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The program, which was announced on Thursday, is the first of its kind in the state.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said it’s all about getting people connected to mental health resources during a crisis.

“We can help people take that important pause to recognize that they are valued, that they are loved and that there are services here for them,” she said.

SEE ALSO: Psychologists in Lincoln and nationwide struggle to meet demand for mental health care

Previously, dispatchers couldn’t directly connect you to a counselor if you called 911.

Jessica Loos, the city’s 911 communications coordinator, said dispatchers answered about 6,000 mental health crisis calls in the second half of 2023.

She said many of those didn’t require an officer to respond and could’ve been handled over the phone by a counselor.

Now law enforcement will only need to respond if there is an immediate danger.

“There’s an alternative way to be there with our community if that immediate threat does not exist,” she said.

SEE ALSO: Former Husker thanks 911 dispatcher for helping wife save his life

Alexis Cozad, who lost her dad to suicide in 2020, said people often don’t know who to call when someone they know is in a crisis.

“I remember many times where I knew my dad needed help, but I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I didn’t want to call 911 because of the fear of the unknown. Would they take him to the hospital where he can get the help he needs? Or would they take him to jail?”

Cozad’s dad was a police officer in Council Bluffs from 1998 to 2009. He retired due to post-traumatic stress disorder and struggled with his mental health for years after.

SEE ALSO: ‘I’ve lost someone’: Advocates spread awareness during Suicide Prevention Month

She said he made several suicide attempts, but she never wanted to believe it could actually happen.

That’s why it’s so important that someone makes the call.

“Don’t ever hesitate to call 988 or call 911,” she said. “Maybe you don’t know if you should call 911. Is it worthy for that call, or should I call 988? If you just call one or the other, they should be able to pass you off to the appropriate party.”

SEE ALSO: Officials say 98% of people get help they need via suicide hotline 988