LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A legislative report says Nebraska is struggling to provide adequate mental health services to its residents and still faces challenges in its efforts to curb binge drinking and substance abuse.

The Behavioral and Mental Health Task Force released Thursday a list of 18 recommendations for better mental health services.

The report says the state, particularly in rural areas, doesn’t have a sufficient amount of mental health workers. The panel recommends publicly funded post-graduate fellowships in psychiatry for physician assistants and psychiatric nurses.

The report also recommended adopting a mental health care provider shortage emergency act to ensure that if the number of staff members at the Lincoln Regional Center falls below a certain level, a portion of vacancy savings would be used for staff retention bonuses.