Kentucky’s Commitment to Mental Health: FindHelpNow Website Unveils Transformative Enhancements

Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Resource Launched in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – March 18, 2024:

The innovative mental health and addiction treatment website, FindHelpNowKY.org, has announced the rollout of its significant enhancements, illustrating Kentucky’s commitment to mental health. Originally established in 2018 to connect individuals afflicted with substance use disorder to addiction treatment facilities, the platform has undergone extensive updates to become a comprehensive tool for timely linkage to care for mental health and substance use disorder treatments as well as recovery housing.

What’s New on the FindHelpNow Website?

The revamped website now features a groundbreaking referral intervention system that displays near-real-time available openings at substance use disorder treatment facilities, mental health establishments, recovery houses, naloxone distribution locations, and social service resources. Administered by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), FindHelpNowKY.org shows Kentucky’s dedication to improving the health and wellness of its residents.

Government and KIPRC Strategic Collaboration

An announcement on the website’s rebuild took place at Kentucky’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Leadership Conference. It was made by Governor Andy Beshear and attended by multiple community leaders, state officials, mental health advocates, and KIPRC representatives. Speaking on the project, Governor Beshear expressed, “We are making it easier for Kentuckians to find the life-saving help they need. While there’s always more work to be done, we’re taking another step forward on our mission to help our families fight and overcome addiction.”

In her address at the conference, the KIPRC Director Dr. Terry Bunn noted, “This is more than an update. It’s a commitment to improving mental health outcomes for every Kentuckian.” She highlighted the collaboration between the government and KIPRC to transform FindHelpNow into a comprehensive resource for crisis centers, community mental health centers, and other community partners.

Accessing the Services

The resources provided on FindHelpNowKy.org are also available at their individual websites: FindNaloxoneNowKY.org, FindMentalHealthNowKY.org, and FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org.

About KIPRC

As a part of the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, KIPRC is a unique collaboration between the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and the university. KIPRC stands as an academic injury prevention research center and as the DPH’s designee or “bona fide agent” for statewide injury prevention and control.

This transformative project is supported by the Washington D.C.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The development secured part of a funding award amounting to $5.4 million, with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The views expressed pertaining to this project are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official stands of the CDC, HHS, or the U.S. Government.