Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska
By Brian Mastre
Published on April 21, 2026.
The state of mental health care in Nebraska is under scrutiny following two incidents involving law enforcement, including a shooting of a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy and a kidnapping of a 3-year-old boy. The Board of Mental Health issued warrants for individuals who are not following their treatment plans, which resulted in the death of a sheriff's deputy and the arrest of Noemi Guzman, who had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan for schizophrenia since the summer for her schizophrenia. However, 85% of the 2,500 warrants were issued for individuals not meeting their treatment plan, and 15% of these individuals had another warrant issued by the board of mental Health. The report suggests a better approach to mental health is suggested by Sheriff Hanson, suggesting that problem-solving courts like drug court and veterans' treatment court should be used to help those deemed to be productive citizens.
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