The Commission Provides Mental Health Service Coordination by:
- Meeting the communication needs of the people who are deaf or hard of hearing, which includes interpreting and auxiliary aids
- Educating and training mental health, alcoholism and drug abuse professionals
- Placing assistive listening devices in mental health, alcoholism and drug abuse facilities
Mental health services for persons who are deaf lag behind those for the hearing population in both availability and quality. Researchers have estimated that between 2 and 15 percent of those deaf persons in need of mental health services can obtain them. An estimated 40,000 deaf Americans experience serious psychopathology, but only a tiny percentage of them are receiving appropriate services and treatment in either community or inpatient settings. Some in the field estimate that the quality and quantity of mental health services for people who are deaf lag as much as 10 to 30 years behind services for people who are hearing.
Deafness often presents a barrier to communication for mental health workers unfamiliar with the deaf culture and community, and they may find it difficult to adequately address the person’s mental illness. Effective mental health services need to focus on mental health, not on deafness. Mental health providers need to understand a person’s hearing loss to the degree that it becomes invisible to the treatment process.
Along with the lack of services a challenge exists in the area of communication. Many public mental health systems and providers cannot communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) and have little or no training and experience in working with consumers who are deaf. That lack of communication and experience makes actually addressing the individual’s mental illness very difficult.
In the State of Nebraska, there are only eight known mental health providers, fluent in ASL. Because of the shortage of trained ASL providers, the role of interpreters becomes an important element in service delivery. Although interpreters can provide an all-important communication bridge between consumers and clinicians, it is not the most effective means of communication. Therefore, it is critical when interpreters are used clinicians know how to use the interpreter appropriately.
In conclusion, the services provided to deaf consumers needs to recognize and embrace the strong connection to the Deaf community. The Deaf community is close-knit and, therefore, many members of the community prefer to live near each other. This support will be a necessary part of mental health recovery.
The mental health specialist monitors and advises mental health, alcoholism and drug abuse professionals on how to best serve people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
For more information regarding mental health services in Nebraska, please contact Peggy Williams, Mental Health Specialist
"As a resource on mental health for deaf and hard of hearing citizens of Nebraska, the mission of the NCDHH Mental Health Services is to assist providers, consumers and the general public in promoting accessible mental health and alcohol/drug services for deaf and hard of hearing citizens in Nebraska." - NCDHH Mental Health Mission Statement
In 1995, Gov. Ben Nelson signed LB 25, which created the NCDHH mental health specialist position and granted the Commission the ability to engage in mental health coordination services. The Commission is not involved in delivering traditional mental health or substance services, but it assists persons in accessing these programs.
If you have a Comment or Complaint regarding services, you can easily and privately contact us.
NCDHH Online Comment / Complaint Form
The following is a list of local and national service providers that are "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Friendly"
Alcohol Annonymous (AA) Meetings Interpreted for the Deaf
Disaster Response
Nebraska Behavioral Health All-Hazards Disaster Response and Recovery Plan
Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Hotline Information
Domestic Violence Website for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NCDHH Mental Health Specialist
Peggy Williams
Office Phone Number: 800-545-6244
Video Phone (VP): 402-206-2971
E-Mail address: peggy.williams@nebraska.gov
Abused Deaf Woman's Advocacy Service / Domestic Violence Hotline by VP (206) 787-6244
Counseling
NAD Position Statement on Mental Health Services for Deaf Children
Use of State Licensed Interpreters in Mental Health Settings
Specialized Mental Health Therapists, Substance Abuse Counselors and Psychologists in Nebraska
Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCDHH) does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or documentation referenced in this website. Any mention of vendors, products, or services is for informational purposes only.
Counseling Credentials
- CMSW: Certified Masters of Social Work
- LADC: Licensed Alcohol/Drug Counselor
- LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- LIMHP: Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner
- LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- LMHP: Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
- LPADC: Provisional Alcohol/Drug Counselor
- LPMHP: Licensed Provisional Mental Health Practitioner
- MSW: Masters of Social Work
- NCC: Nationally Certified Counselor
- PLADC: Provisional Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor
- LP: Licensed Psychologist
Counselor Name: James T. Haley, MA, LMHP, NCC
Name of Practice: Psychological and Counseling Services
Address: 12728 Augusta Ave., Ste. 150
City: Omaha
State: NE
Zip Code: 68144
Phone Number: (402) 330-1537
Fax Number: (402) 330-9331
Web Site Address:http://www.psychologicalandcounselingservices.net
Counselor Name: Thomas J. Haley, Ph.D., LP
Name of Practice: Psychological and Counseling Services
Address: 12728 Augusta Ave., Ste. 150
City: Omaha
State: NE
Zip Code: 68144
Phone Number: (402) 330-1537
Fax Number: (402) 330-9331
Web Site Address:http://www.psychologicalandcounselingservices.net
Counselor Name: Vickie Frizzell Pratt
Name of Practice:
Address: 7120 S 29th St Ste 200
City: Lincoln
State: NE
Zip Code: 68516
Phone Number: (402) 486-3113
Counselor Name: Mandy Leamon, LCSW, PLADC
Name of Practice: Fremont Area Medical Center / Outpatient Psychiatric Services
Address: 680 E Fremont Medical Park Dr Ste 300
City: Fremont
State: NE
Zip Code: 68025
Phone Number: (402) 941-7242
Counselor Name: Maureen Mann
Name of Practice: Boys Town National Research Hospital
Address: 555 N. 30th St.
City: Omaha
State: NE
Zip Code: 68131
Phone Number: (402) 452-5000
Web Site Address:http://www.boystownhospital.org
Counselor Name: Jackie Prater, LCSW, LIMHP
Name of Practice: Child Guidance Center
Address: 2444 O St.
City: Lincoln
State: NE
Zip Code: 68510
Phone Number: (402) 475-7666
Web Site Address: https://child-guidanceorg.presencehost.net/
Counselor Name: Mary Slominski, LMHP, CMSW, LADC
Name of Practice: Mary Slominski Counseling
Address: 1508 J.F. Kennedy Dr Ste 206-4
City: Bellevue
State: NE
Zip Code: 68123
Phone Number: (402) 991-8293
Counselor Name: Lisa Vogel
Name of Practice: West Maple Counseling Associates
Address: 2511 N. 73rd St.
City: Omaha
State: NE
Zip Code: 68134
Phone Number: (402) 393-0133
