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Kentucky

Depression resources in Kentucky

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and the reviewer of this article.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 5 minutes

State and regional lines here include 988 in Kentucky and CMHC 24 hour crisis lines by county. Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health funds and oversees publicly funded mental health services in Kentucky. 2 academic medical centers run psychiatry departments: University of Kentucky Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. NAMI's helpline directory lists 2 local peer helplines in Kentucky, from NAMI Lexington to NAMI Louisville. Hours and numbers change, so confirm with each organization before relying on them.

If this is a crisis

Call or text 988 anywhere in Kentucky, any time. Press 2 for Spanish. TTY users dial 711, then 988. Veterans press 1. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Crisis and warm lines in Kentucky

Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health

Phone: 502-782-6106
Website: www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dbhdid

NAMI peer helplines in Kentucky

From NAMI's helpline directory, updated August 24, 2026. Peer support and referrals, not crisis lines.

  • NAMI Lexington. 859-252-0058. Monday to Saturday, 5pm to 9pm Eastern. Warmline.
  • NAMI Louisville. 502-588-2008. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern.

Programs and agencies in Kentucky

Crisis care and mobile crisis

State behavioral health agencies

Community mental health centers

NAMI state organization

Other state programs

State treatment locators

Source: AnxietyResource.org, Kentucky.

Kentucky Medicaid Behavioral Health

Kentucky Medicaid Behavioral Health covers behavioral health care for eligible Kentucky residents. Use its provider search to find in-network therapists and psychiatrists.

Academic psychiatry in Kentucky

Telepsychiatry in Kentucky

A clinician who treats you by video has to hold a Kentucky license, because licensing follows where you are during the visit. Practices to compare and prescribing rules are on the state resources overview.

Frequently asked questions

What crisis and warm lines does Kentucky have besides 988?
988 in Kentucky; CMHC 24 hour crisis lines by county; Kentucky 211; Participation Station Warm Line (Lexington) ((877) 840-5167). Warm lines are for talking things through when you're not in immediate danger. In a crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
Is there a local NAMI helpline in Kentucky?
Yes. NAMI's helpline directory lists 2 in Kentucky, including NAMI Lexington (859-252-0058), NAMI Louisville (502-588-2008). They offer peer support and local referrals, not crisis care. For a crisis, call or text 988.

Also useful in Kentucky

Last reviewed September 23, 2026. Cite as: Refai, S. (2026, September 23). Depression resources in Kentucky. DepressionResource.org. https://depressionresource.org/state-resources/kentucky/

Every clinical page on DepressionResource.org is written in plain language, dated, and reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist against current clinical guidelines. See our editorial standards and medical review process.