Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear highlighted significant progress in expanding mental health care access across the commonwealth as Mental Health Awareness Month concludes. His administration has doubled licensed mental health providers and implemented services like the 988 Lifeline to support residents.
Since its 2022 launch, Kentucky's 988 Lifeline has handled 265,000 calls, chats, and texts, with in-state centers answering calls in an average of 25 seconds. A 30% increase in calls routed to in-state centers occurred in the past year. In 2025, 17,000 Kentuckians received crisis services.
Gov. Beshear signed several key pieces of legislation. During the 2026-2028 budget session, he signed House Bill 169, requiring health plans to cover eating disorder treatments, and House Bill 178, defining a psychiatric collaborative care model. Earlier, in 2022, he signed House Bill 65, expanding telehealth for mental health; House Bill 127, increasing access to assisted outpatient treatment; and House Bill 44, allowing students mental health days.
"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," said Gov. Beshear. "To our fellow Kentuckians, please remember that it’s OK to not be OK – and more important, there is help."
The administration also prioritized student mental health, awarding over $40 million in grants for school-based resources. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman led a Student Mental Health Initiative. "I am proud of the work the Beshear-Coleman administration has done to improve mental health resources throughout Kentucky," said Lt. Gov. Coleman.
Efforts addressing addiction, which impacts mental health, have contributed to four consecutive years of declining overdose deaths. These include Medicaid addiction services, Narcan distribution, and support for Recovery Ready Communities.