LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted progress made in expanding mental health care access across Kentucky as Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close.
From resources such as the 988 Lifeline to doubling the number of licensed mental health professionals, Beshear said significant progress has been made in a news release Friday, May 29.
Since the launch of the 988 Lifeline in 2022, Beshear said the state has fielded 265,000 calls, chats and texts from Kentuckians.
“There has been a 30% increase in calls routed to in-state centers in the past year alone,” Beshear said, “meaning more Kentuckians are being helped by Kentuckians.”
Beshear also highlighted Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman’s Student Mental Health Initiative, as well as the administration’s awarding of more than $40 million in grant funding toward expanding school-based mental health resources.
Recognizing addiction plays a role in mental health, Beshear said his administration has sought to increase recovery support, leading to four straight years of declines in overdose deaths.
Some efforts Beshear mentioned included Narcan distribution, reentry services and addiction services through Medicaid and the Opioid Response Effort.
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