An article recently published in the Courier-Journal, a newspaper that serves residents of Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana, sounded the warning bell about the shortage of mental health workers in Kentucky. According to a state-commissioned health workforce report, Kentucky currently needs 1,638 more mental health providers to meet current demand. *Keep in mind this article was published before the expansion of insurance coverage and benefits under the Affordable Care Act.
According to the report:
- More than 80 percent of Kentucky counties need more mental health providers, with 10 percent of counties needing at least 25 more.
- Approximately 71 percent of the current needs are in rural counties.
- The need is greatest for people who are uninsured or on Medicaid.
A copy of the article can be found here.