Governor highlights progress as Mental Health Awareness Month concludes
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 29, 2026) – 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 the commonwealth. 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,” said Gov. Beshear. “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.”
988 Lifeline and Crisis Support
Since launching the easy-to-remember 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.
The state has also made it a priority to provide more crisis response options for those in need. In 2025 alone, 17,000 Kentuckians received crisis services from community mental health centers, mobile crisis response, walk-in care and crisis stabilization.
Legislation To Increase Support
Gov. Beshear has signed multiple pieces of legislation to expand mental health services and coverage for 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.
The Governor 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.
Increased Services for Students
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.
Since taking office, the Beshear/Coleman administration has awarded more than $40 million in grant funding toward expanding school-based mental health resources at public schools across the commonwealth.
Lt. Gov. Coleman also created and led a successful Student Mental Health Initiative, meeting with and listening to hundreds of Kentucky students about how mental health services can be improved.
“I am proud of the work the Beshear-Coleman administration has done to improve mental health resources throughout Kentucky. We believe healthcare is a basic right, and that includes mental healthcare,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “I knew from my time in the classroom that student mental health was on the verge of being an epidemic. My office has focused on ensuring the future of Kentucky’s economy – our students – have everything they need to flourish.”
Addiction and Recovery
Gov. Beshear recognizes that addiction plays a role in mental health and progress made to increase recovery support by his administration has led to four straight years of declines in overdose deaths. Addiction services through Medicaid and the Opioid Response Effort, Narcan distribution, grant funding to addiction treatment organizations, Recovery Ready Communities, reentry services and efforts by the Kentucky State Police and law enforcement to remove dangerous drugs from Kentucky communities have helped Team Kentucky save more lives and help more people overcome addiction.
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.
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