photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Dan Watkins, interim executive director of HeadQuarters Kansas, and Megan Bridges, crisis services director of HeadQuarters Kansas speak at the Douglas County Commission meeting on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

HeadQuarters Kansas has appointed a new executive director and director of operations, according to an announcement from the organization on Tuesday.

The organization is the state’s primary 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline contact center for 102 of 105 Kansas counties. The new leadership additions include Megan Bridges – who previously served as the director of crisis services – as executive director and Misty Eytcheson, director of operations.

Bridges will take over the role from Interim Executive Director Dan Watkins. She brings nearly a decade of experience with HeadQuarters Kansas, according to the press release. Bridges is a licensed social worker and her experience in crisis response and case management spans higher education, residence life and direct suicide prevention efforts.

“Having started on the frontline, I know what our counselors carry every day, and I know what’s at stake for the people reaching out to us. Leading this organization means making sure both of those groups — our team and the people they serve — are always at the center of every decision we make.” Bridges said in the release. “Having started as a volunteer and now serving as executive director, it’s a full-circle moment. I want to make sure that as we plan for the future, we never lose sight of what it’s like to be the person answering that call, chat or text.”

Watkins said her crisis counseling experience at HeadQuarters and her work as director of crisis services has played an important role in developing a solid foundation for the organization and improving services.

“Her move to executive director has been a natural progression as she has continually taken on expanded responsibilities and excelled in handling them,” Watkins said in the release.

Eytcheson brings 26 years of experience across nonprofit organizations and public service entities, including schools, libraries and municipal government. She holds a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management and coordinates HeadQuarter’s internal and outsourced administrative operations, public outreach and fundraising development for the organization.

“I’ve always had a passion for connecting people – connecting them to resources, to other people, to opportunities,” Eytcheson said in the release. “In this role I’m helping connect people to our services through community outreach, but also making sure our team has what they need to help connect people through direct services.”

HeadQuarters Kansas encourages people experiencing a mental health crisis to either call or text 988. The service is free, confidential and available 24/7. After dialing 988, veterans can press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.