How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Kentucky
Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.
While state-based programs are not for everyone, they’re often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.
When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health systems, including Kentucky’s, have crisis response systems that help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away. The people who answer crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.
Community mental health centers (CMHCs) in Kentucky are publicly-funded outpatient programs that provide mental health care for people in the counties they serve, with a special focus on people who lack the means to access outpatient mental health services in the private sector. In addition to offering affordable therapy, CMHCs provide specialized and intensive services that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics. Consider going to a CMHC if you need intensive treatment, live in a rural area with limited resources, or can’t access mental health care in the private sector due to your diagnosis or financial situation.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Kentucky?
Kentucky’s community mental health centers don’t have strict clinical eligibility requirements. This means you don’t have to have a serious mental illness (SMI) to receive therapy at a Kentucky CMHC. In general, you do need to have a mental health condition or issue that is affecting your ability to function in your daily life, but these issues and impacts can range in severity. At times of high demand, Kentucky CMHCs may prioritize serving people with more severe clinical issues.
Kentucky CMHCs don’t have strict income or financial requirements, either. Public mental health clinics in Kentucky accept out-of-pocket payment, Medicaid, Medicare, and a range of private insurance plans. Kentucky also has fewer requirements for Medicaid than many states. Since Kentucky accepted federal Medicaid expansion in 2014, you’re eligible for Medicaid in Kentucky if your income is 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less.
Kentucky CMHCs offer sliding-scale fees to people who don’t have insurance. What you pay to receive therapy or other services at a Kentucky CMHC will depend on your income level. Some CMHCs in Kentucky only offer individual counseling on a short-term basis, or otherwise limit therapy based on funding and demand. You can call your local CMHC for more information.
If you’re not finding the care you need through the state system or tried it and felt like it wasn’t the right fit, you can try searching for free or low-cost counselors on OpenCounseling or signing up for affordable online counseling at BetterHelp (sponsor).
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Kentucky?
The best way to find out about your local community mental health center in Kentucky is to call the program directly. You can also use one of the search tools on the Kentucky Division of Behavioral Health’s website or call their general information line at (502) 564-4456. For your convenience, we have listed current contact information for all Kentucky CMHCs, mental health crisis lines, and local mental health clinics below.
Western Kentucky Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 1: Four Rivers Behavioral Health
- Serving Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, McCracken, and Marshall Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 592-3980
- Corporate Office Phone (Paducah): (270) 442-1452 or (270) 442-7121 or (866) 442-7121
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Western State Hospital: (270) 889-6025
- Office Locations:
- Center for Adult Services (Paducah): (270) 442-1801 or (270) 442-7142
- Fuller Center (Mayfield): (270) 247-2588
- Lakes Center (Murray): (270) 753-6622
- Fulton County Services (Fulton): (270) 247-2588
- Ballard County Services (Wickliffe): (270) 442-7121
- Region 2: Pennyroyal Center
- Serving Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd, and Trigg Counties
- Crisis Line: (877) 473-7766 (outside Christian County) or (270) 881-9551 (in Christian County)
- Corporate Office Phone: (270) 886-2205 or (270) 881-9551
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Western State Hospital: (270) 889-6025
- Clinic Locations:
- Hopkinsville Clinic: (270) 886-5163
- Hammond Plaza (Hopkinsville): (270) 886-0486
- Central City Clinic: (270) 931-5113
- Greenville Clinic: (270) 338-5211
- Princeton Clinic: (270) 365-2008
- Madisonville Clinic: (270) 821-8874
- Oak Grove Clinic: (270) 640-6074
- Region 3: River Valley Behavioral Health
- Serving Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 433-7291 or (270) 684-9466
- Point of Entry/Access Line: (270) 683-4039 or (800) 769-4920
- Corporate Office Phone: (270) 689-6500 or (270) 684-0696 or (800) 737-0696
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Western State Hospital: (270) 889-6025
- Office Locations:
- Primary Location (Owensboro): (270) 689-6500
- Hancock County Office (Hawesville): (270) 927-8659
- Henderson County Office (Henderson): (270) 826-8314
- Ohio County Office (Beaver Dam): (270) 274-0650
- Union County Office (Morganfield): (270) 389-3240
- Webster County Office (Providence): (270) 667-7092
- RiverValley Behavioral Health Hospital (Owensboro): (270) 689-6800 or (800) 755-8477
- Region 4: LifeSkills, Inc.
- Serving Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 223-8913 (after-hours) or (270) 843-4357 (weekday/daytime hours)
- Corporate Office Phone: (270) 842-0161 or (270) 843-4382 or (270) 901-5000
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Western State Hospital: (270) 889-6025
- Office Locations:
- Allen County Service Center (Scottsville): (270) 237-4481 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Barren County Service Center (Glasgow): (270) 651-8378 x0101 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Butler County Service Center (Morgantown): (270) 526-3877 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Edmonson County Service Center (Brownsville): (270) 597-2713 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Hart County Service Center (Munfordville): (270) 524-99883 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Logan County Service Center (Russellville): (270) 726-7833 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Metcalfe County Service Center (Edmonton): (270) 432-4951 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Monroe County Service Center (Tompkinsville): (270) 487-5655 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Simpson County Service Center (Franklin): (270) 586-8826 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
- Warren County Service Center (Bowling Green): (270) 901-5000 or (270) 901-5999 (after-hours)
Central and Northern Kentucky Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 5: Communicare, Inc.
- Serving Breckenridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 641-4673 or (270) 765-2605
- Corporate Office Phone: (270) 765-2605
- Appointment Line: (888) 344-8066
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Central State Hospital: (502) 253-7000
- Clinic Locations:
- Breckinridge County Behavioral Health Clinic (Hardinsburg): (270) 756-5816
- Grayson County Behavioral Health Clinic (Leitchfield): (270) 259-4652
- Hardin County Behavioral Health Clinic (Elizabethtown): (270) 769-1304
- Hardin County Behavioral Health Clinic (Radcliff): (270) 351-8166
- LaRue County Behavioral Health Clinic (Hodgenville): (270) 358-5667
- Marion County Behavioral Health Clinic (Lebanon): (270) 692-2509
- Meade County Behavioral Health Clinic (Brandenburg): (270) 422-3971
- Nelson County Behavioral Health Clinic (Bardstown): (502) 348-9206
- Washington County Behavioral Health Clinic (Springfield): (859) 336-7746
- Region 6: CenterStone Kentucky
- Serving Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 221-0446 or (502) 589-4313
- Corporate Office Phone: (502) 589-8600 or (502) 589-1100
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Central State Hospital: (502) 253-7000
- Kentucky Adult Outpatient Clinic Locations (Use 502-589-1100 for all locations):
- Centerstone Bowling Green (918 State Street)
- Centerstone LaGrange (2141 Spencer Court)
- Centerstone Louisville – Adult Downtown (708 Magazine Street)
- Centerstone Louisville – Adult East (4710 Champions Trace Lane)
- Centerstone Louisville – Adult South (2105 Crums Lane)
- Centerstone Louisville – Adult West (2650 West Broadway)
- Centerstone Louisville – TAYLRD (1020 East Broadway)
- Centerstone Shelbyville (250 Alpine Drive)
- Centerstone Shepherdsville (130 Joe B. Hall Avenue)
- Centerstone Taylorsville (47 West Main Street #4)
- Region 7: NorthKey Community Care
- Serving Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen, and Pendleton Counties
- Crisis Line: (877) 331-3292 or (859) 331-3292
- 24-Hour Access Line: (859) 331-3292 or (877) 331-3292
- Corporate Office Phone: (859) 578-3200
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Eastern State Hospital: (859) 246-8000
- Adult Outpatient Service Locations:
- E. Willett Treatment Center (Florence): (859) 525-6808
- Wirtz Center (Newport): (859) 781-5596
- Carroll County Outpatient Office (Carrollton): (502) 732-9331
- Gallatin County Outpatient Office (Warsaw): (859) 567-4430
- Grant County Outpatient Office (Williamstown): (859) 824-4442
- Kenton County Office (Covington): (859) 431-3052
- Owen County Outpatient Office (Owenton): (502) 484-3464
- Pendleton County Outpatient Office (Falmouth): (859) 654-6988
- Region 14: The Adanta Group
- Serving Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCrery, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 633-5599
- Corporate Office Phone: (606) 679-4782
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Eastern State Hospital: (859) 246-8000
- Adult Outpatient Locations:
- Adair County Office (Columbia): (270) 384-4719
- Barren County Office (Glasgow): (270) 651-7070
- Casey County Office (Liberty): (606) 787-9472
- Clinton/Cumberland County Office (Albany): (606) 387-7635
- Green County Office (Greensburg): (270) 932-3226
- McCreary County Office (Whitley City): (606) 376-2466
- Pulaski County Office (Somerset): (606) 679-7348
- Russell County Office (Jamestown): (270) 343-2551
- Taylor County Office (Campbellsville): (270) 465-7424
- Wayne County Office (Monticello): (606) 348-9318
- Woodford County Office (Versailles): (859) 879-2090
- Region 15: New Vista
- Serving Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott and Woodford Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 928-8000 or (859) 243-2737
- Corporate Office Phone: (859) 253-1686
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Eastern State Hospital: (859) 246-8000
- Adult Outpatient Locations:
- Newtown Counseling Office (Lexington): (859) 233-0444
- Anderson County Office (Lawrenceburg): (502) 839-7203
- Bourbon County Office (Paris): (859) 987-6127
- Boyle County Anchor Center (Danville): (859) 236-2726
- Clark County Office (Winchester): (859) 744-2562
- Estill County Office (Irvine): (606) 723-5128
- Franklin County Office (Frankfort): (502) 223-2182
- Harrison County Office (Cynthiana): (859) 234-6940
- Jessamine County Office (Nicholasville): (859) 885-6315
- Lincoln County Office (Stanford): (606) 365-2197
- Madison County Anchor Center (Richmond): (859) 626-5030
- Powell County Office (Stanton): (606) 663-2274
- Scott County Anchor Center (Georgetown): (502) 863-4734
Eastern Kentucky Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 8: Comprehend, Inc.
- Serving Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson Counties
- Crisis Line: (877) 852-1523
- Mason County Crisis Hotline: (606) 564-9983
- Appointment Line: (606) 564-4016 or (888) 328-0470
- Corporate Office Phone: (606) 564-4016 or (877) 852-1523
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Eastern State Hospital: (859) 246-8000
- Adult Outpatient Service Locations:
- Main Office (Maysville): (606) 564-4016
- Response Center (Maysville): (606) 564-9983
- Fleming County Outpatient Office (Flemingsburg): (606) 849-2212
- Lewis County Outpatient Office (Vanceburg): (606) 796-3021
- Bracken County Office (Brooksville): (606) 735-3611
- Regions 9 and 10: Pathways, Inc.
- Serving Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence, Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 562-8909 or (606) 324-1141
- Corporate Office Phone: (606) 329-8588
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Eastern State Hospital: (859) 246-8000
- Adult Outpatient Locations:
- Bath County Office (Owingsville): (606) 674-6690
- Boyd County Office (3701 Lansdowne Drive, Ashland): (606) 324-3005
- Boyd County Office (201 22nd Street, Ashland): (606) 324-1141
- Carter County Outpatient Office (Grayson): (606) 474-5151
- Elliott County Office (Sandy Hook): (606) 738-6163
- Greenup County Office (Greenup): (606) 473-7333
- Lawrence County Office (Louisa): (606) 638-4332
- Menifee County Office (Frenchburg): (606) 768-2131
- Montgomery County Office (Mt. Sterling): (859) 489-2135
- Morgan County Office (West Liberty): (606) 743-3139
- Rowan County Office (Morehead): (606) 784-4161
- Region 11: Mountain Comprehensive Care Center
- Serving Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 422-1060
- Corporate Office Phone: (606) 886-8572
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Appalachian Regional Hospital: (606) 439-1331
- Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinics in the Big Sandy Region and Southeast Kentucky:
- Floyd County Complex (Prestonsburg): (606) 886-4350
- Martin City Complex (Martin): (606) 285-3142
- Bertee’s Place Outpatient Clinic (Wheelwright): (606) 452-2900
- Johnson County Complex (Paintsville): (606) 789-3518
- Magoffin County Complex (Salyersville): (606) 349-3115
- Inez Outpatient Clinic (Inez): (606) 298-7902
- Belfry Complex (Belfry): (606) 353-1287
- Pikeville Complex (Pikeville): (606) 432-3143
- Whitesburg Outpatient (Whitesburg): (606) 536-5014
- Campton Outpatient Clinic (Campton): (606) 668-7796
- Adult Outpatient Clinics in Northeast Kentucky:
- Maysville Outpatient Clinic (Maysville): (606) 407-6100
- Bath Outpatient Clinic (Owingsville): (606) 336-5093
- Montgomery Outpatient Clinic (Mt. Sterling): (859) 520-3617
- Morgan Outpatient Clinic (West Liberty): (606) 743-4184
- Gateway Community-Based Services (Morehead): (606) 784-4800
- Safe Harbor Outpatient Clinic (Ashland): (606) 393-3293
- Grayson Outpatient Clinic (Grayson): (606) 475-0031
- Olive Hill Outpatient Clinic (Olive Hill): (606) 315-2331
- Russell Outpatient (Russell): (606) 833-2583
- Louisa Outpatient (Louisa): (606) 638-0577
- Adult Outpatient Clinics in Central Kentucky:
- Winchester Outpatient Clinic (Winchester): (859) 737-2900
- Lexington Outpatient Clinic (Lexington): (859) 447-8217
- Fayette County Behavioral Health (Lexington): (859) 368-8897
- Participation Station (Lexington): (859) 368-9747
- Harrison Outpatient Clinic (Cynthiana): (859) 298-2156
- Powell Outpatient Clinic (Clay City): (606) 663-3336
- Adult Outpatient Clinics in Western and West-Central Kentucky:
- Owensboro Outpatient Clinic (Owensboro): (270) 683-8248
- Princeton Outpatient Clinic (Princeton): (270) 365-7684
- Hopkinsville Outpatient Clinic (Hopkinsville): (270) 887-8800
- Madisonville Outpatient Clinic (Madisonville): (270) 825-0414
- Benton Outpatient Clinic (Benton): (270) 252-9432
- HomePlace Primary and Comprehensive Care Clinics:
- Pikeville HomePlace Clinic (Pikeville): (606) 433-2303
- Prestonsburg HomePlace Clinic (Prestonsburg): (606) 886-4346
- Paintsville HomePlace Clinic (Paintsville): (606) 788-1345
- Louisa HomePlace Clinic (Louisa): (606) 638-9522
- Belfry HomePlace Clinic (Belfry): (606) 353-9226
- Grayson HomePlace Clinic (Grayson): (606) 474-0042
- Cynthiana HomePlace Clinic (Cynthiana): (859) 298-2011
- Region 12: Kentucky River Community Care
- Serving Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, and Wolfe Counties
- Crisis Line: (800) 262-7491 or (606) 666-8712
- Corporate Office Phone: (606) 666-9006 or (606) 436-5761
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Appalachian Regional Hospital: (606) 439-1331
- Adult Outpatient Locations:
- Breathitt County Outpatient Services (Jackson): (606) 666-7591
- Knott County Outpatient Services (Emmalena): (606) 785-3556
- Lee County Outpatient Services (Beattyville): (606) 464-3212
- Leslie County Outpatient Services (Hyden): (606) 672-4215
- Letcher County Outpatient Services (Whitesburg): (606) 633-4439
- Owsley County Outpatient Services (Booneville): (606) 464-3212
- Perry County Outpatient Services (Hazard): (606) 436-5761
- Wolfe County Outpatient Services (Campton): (606) 668-7420 or (606) 668-2090
- Region 13: Cumberland River Behavioral Health
- Serving Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Rockcastle, and Whitley Counties
- Crisis Line: 988 or (606) 528-7010
- Corporate Office Phone: (606) 528-7010
- Adult State Psychiatric Hospital: Appalachian Regional Hospital: (606) 439-1331
- Adult Outpatient Locations:
- Barbourville Office: (606) 546-3104
- Corbin Office: (606) 528-7010
- Harlan Office: (606) 573-1624
- London Office: (606) 864-2104
- Manchester Office: (606) 598-5172
- McKee Office: (606) 287-7137
- Middlesboro Office: (606) 248-4949
- Vernon Office: (606) 256-2129
- Pineville Office: (606) 337-6137
- Williamsburg Office: (606) 549-1440
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Kentucky. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding-scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does Kentucky's Public Mental Health System Work?
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. Many states’ public mental health programs trace their origins back to this period. Kentucky is no exception.
Many Kentucky CMHCs were founded soon after President John F. Kennedy signed the federal Community Mental Health Act in 1963. Kentucky passed its own state Community Mental Health Services Act in 1964, and funding and construction of CMHCs began immediately afterward. Kentucky was the first state in the nation to establish a full statewide network of community mental health centers.
Public mental health services in Kentucky are managed and overseen on the state level by the Division of Behavioral Health within the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. Services are provided by a network of 14 CMHCs. Each CMHC serves a multi-county region and has its own mental health crisis line and local mental health clinics. Most CMHCs have at least one clinic for each county they serve, but this varies from region to region.
Kentucky has one of the highest rates of depression of any state in the country. In response to this epidemic, it has expanded its mental health provider network, established more integrated health clinics, and placed fewer restrictions on access to public mental health services than many other states. People who do seek treatment for depression or other mental health conditions in Kentucky fare pretty well—according to an article in The Lexington Herald Leader, Kentucky’s ratio of mental health providers to citizens is nearly twice the national average and people who receive treatment in Kentucky report outcomes that are better than the national average.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 47 percent of people in Kentucky who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care, including community mental health centers. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using local mental health resources to get the care you need.