The demand for mental health services has been escalating. This increased demand, coupled with a shortage of space and services, has been creating a critical challenge for those in need.

"We've seen a huge increase in mental health and substance use visits to our Emergency Department over the past four years," says Howard Liu, MD, board-certified psychiatrist at Nebraska Medicine and chair of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry. "From 2015 to 2019, we saw a marked increase in people with a psychiatric crisis coming to our Emergency Department and had more than 3,000 visits, for this reason, in one year alone."

People coming to the Nebraska Medical Center Emergency Department often had to wait hours before receiving care.

Jay Noddle has experienced these challenges firsthand. A loved one has needed to use Nebraska Medicine psychiatric services over the years, Noddle appreciates the need for quality psychiatric care. "I understand how terrifying it can be when you find yourself with a friend or loved one who needs emergency psychiatric care," he says. "I know how important it is to be able to access appropriate care quickly and what a huge need there is for this type of service in the community."

This firsthand knowledge inspired Noddle, president and CEO of Noddle Companies, based in Omaha, Nebraska, to become a principal donor for the creation of the Behavioral Health Connection Program, and later, the opening of the Nebraska Medicine Adult Psychiatric Emergency Services.

The Behavioral Health Connection is a free program designed to help connect adults with psychological or substance use disorders to the appropriate local resources to meet their needs, whether that involves coordinating support services, transportation, food or financial assistance. Oftentimes, the task of getting assistance can be overwhelming, notes Dr. Liu. Having an expert who helps navigate the next step is critical to getting a patient on the road to health. Assistance is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 402.836.9292.

More recently, Noddle became one of the primary donors for the creation of the Adult Psychiatric Emergency Services.

The unit is designed to be a calm, safe and compassionate environment away from the main Emergency Department to stabilize patients and swiftly refer them to community partners for appropriate treatment. "I liken it to a train station," explains Dr. Liu. "It is not designed to be a final destination for a loved one in crisis, but a safe and caring place where they can stop, allow us to assess their needs, start treatment and then transfer them to an appropriate level of care."

The unit consists of four interview/ triage rooms where patients have a trauma-informed mental health assessment performed. It contains an open observation area with a capacity for 12 moderate-risk patients, and a secure care area consisting of six private rooms dedicated to patients requiring specialized care while reducing the potential for harm to themselves or others. A board-certified psychiatrist is available 24/7 and is backed by a team of mental health trained nurses and peer professionals – individuals who have experienced mental health conditions firsthand and are trained to provide peer counseling.

"Jay Noddle and his family have been champions of mental health for many years," says Dr. Liu. "He realizes that mental health issues are just as important to address as other health conditions like cancer. Jay's leadership and donations have been critical in helping us build this important program for our community."

"We chose Nebraska Medicine because we know them, trust them and have a great deal of confidence in their ability to deliver the highest quality of care," says Noddle. "Nebraska Medicine has always been our first call when we need health care."

The NU Foundation offers numerous ways you can help support the mission of Nebraska Medicine and our employees. Visit nufoundation.org/nemedassistance to learn how you can help.