Gov. Beshear administration secures $17M in funding for mental health services

KENTUCKY (WKYT) - The Beshear administration announced the securing of millions in grant funding for mental health and addiction support.

The federal funding was secured through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants to support 988 crisis services, youth mental health and addiction recovery.

“Healthcare is a basic human right, and my administration is continuing to take action to expand and protect access to these essential services that save lives,” said Gov. Beshear. “To our fellow Kentuckians who are struggling with mental health or addiction, please remember that it’s OK to not be OK. There is help available, and Team Kentucky will never stop working to make sure you have access to the support you need.”

Several projects will be supported through the grant, according to officials:

• 988 Crisis Improvement Project: $7,391,219 to improve Kentucky’s response to all 988 contacts (including calls, chats and texts) originating in the state and bolster service for populations at high risk of suicide and overdose
• Early identification and treatment for youth experiencing psychosis: $2.6 million to help identify youth and young adults ages 25 and younger who are at clinical high risk for psychosis. The initiative will provide support to prevent the onset of psychosis or lessen the severity of psychotic disorders
• Expansion of youth behavioral health mobile crisis teams: $3 million to both create and enhance existing mobile crisis teams that serve children, youth and adults experiencing mental health and addiction crises
• Doula support for women with addiction: $3,238,083 to strengthen and expand the state’s ability to provide integrated addiction and maternal mental health services for pregnant and postpartum women and their families
• School Crisis Response Network: $600,000 to support schools across Kentucky with crisis preparedness, mental health awareness and connections to care following traumatic events such as disasters, suicide deaths, violence and fatal accidents

Beshear’s administration says they will continue to expand mental health services and coverage for Kentuckians, expanding on initiatives that have been taken since he took office.