FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close this weekend, Gov. Andy Beshear is highlighting the significant progress his administration has made to expand mental health care access across Kentucky.
From doubling the amount of licensed mental health providers available in the state to implementing services like the 988 Lifeline, Team Kentucky is ensuring support is available for those in need.
“Mental health is just as important as physical health, and Team Kentucky is taking action to expand access and help people of all ages feel supported through quality care,” Beshear said. “While May is Mental Health Awareness Month, this work is a yearlong effort for my administration, and we’re going to build on the progress we’ve made to protect more lives. To our fellow Kentuckians, please remember that it’s OK to not be OK – and more important, there is help.”
Since launching the three-digit mental health crisis hotline in 2022, the 988 Lifeline in Kentucky has fielded 265,000 calls, chats and texts from Kentuckians. The in-state network of 14 community mental health centers has picked up phone calls at an average rate of 25 seconds. There has been a 30% increase in calls routed to in-state centers in the past year alone, meaning more Kentuckians are being helped by Kentuckians.
During the 2026-2028 budget session, Gov. Beshear signed House Bill 169, which requires health plans to cover the costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders, and House Bill 178, which defines a psychiatric collaborative care model in Kentucky that seeks to provide reimbursement and coverage for mental health treatments.
He also signed legislation supporting mental health in 2022, including House Bill 65, which expanded telehealth to include mental health services; House Bill 127, which increased access to assisted outpatient treatment for those with severe mental illness; and House Bill 44, which has allowed students to take mental health days.
As parents, Gov. Beshear, First Lady Britainy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman have made it a priority to increase support, including mental health services, for students through their education-first administration.
The Beshear/Coleman administration has awarded more than $40 million in grants to expand school-based mental health resources at public schools across Kentucky.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, call the KY HELP Call Center at 833-8KY-HELP or visit FindHelpNowKy.org to find recovery resources near you.