87. Corn, Collaboration & Change: Nebraska’s Mental Health Policy Push with Amanda McGill & James Bowers

Thanks for joining us—still hauling corn, but progress has been made! Just in time to plant this year's crop… and just in time to plant seeds of change in Nebraska’s mental health policy landscape. In this episode, we sit down with Amanda McGill from Nebraska Cures and James Bowers from NAMI Nebraska to talk about their collaboration following the Nebraska Mental Health Convening. We dig into why these two organizations joined forces, the pressing behavioral health issues facing the state—from high incarceration and suicide rates to critical workforce shortages—and the data that underscores the urgent need for action. Tune in as we explore what’s next in policy, advocacy, and how you can be part of the solution.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Mastering the Art of Navigating Behavioral Health Systems: Unlock the secrets to effortlessly navigate and access vital mental health resources.
• Unveiling the Power of Mental Health Advocacy in Nebraska: Discover the untold stories and effective strategies behind mental health advocacy in Nebraska.
• Embracing the Role of Lived Experience in Mental Health Reform: Uncover the transformative influence of personal stories in shaping mental health policies and practices.
• Building Effective Mental Health Coalitions: Learn the essential steps to build strong, impactful coalitions for advancing mental health initiatives.
• Unraveling the Impact of Funding on Mental Health Initiatives: Gain insights into the critical role of funding in shaping and sustaining mental health programs and services.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Introducing the Podcast and Guests
00:03:40 - Collaboration and Coalition Building
00:10:38 - Impact of Mental Health in Nebraska
00:12:53 - Building a Movement
00:13:30 - Next Steps and Policy Briefs
00:16:26 - NAMI's Role and Support
00:19:57 - Importance of Lived Experience
00:23:27 - Funding and Stakeholder Engagement
00:26:28 - Importance of Effective Education
00:27:14 - Educating Legislators
00:28:26 - Simplifying Communication
00:30:30 - Community Engagement
00:33:40 - Audience Engagement 

Links:

• https://nebraskacures.com/mental-behavioral-health/

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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3b0UXKA7Zt4