FRANKFORT, Ky. — Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, D-Ky., announced Kentucky is one of six states participating in a yearlong project supporting student mental health. 

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Children and Families team chose Kentucky to participate in the Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, joining Alabama, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Virginia.

“We believe every child in Kentucky should grow up happy and healthy,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky. “Like many states, Kentucky faces a significant barrier in student success due to the student mental health crisis. It is imperative that we address these issues head on.”

The academy adds to the National Governors Association 2022-23 Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health. Coleman’s office said as young people face a mental health crisis magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, elected officials need to ensure students have the resources they need.

States will advance student mental health through a variety of approaches, Coleman’s office said, with Kentucky’s team focused on expanding and improving school-based mental health services and support.

“As a teacher, I dedicated my career to serving my community from the classroom,” Coleman said. “In our education-first administration, Kentucky’s students and their wellbeing remain top of mind. I am thankful for the National Governors Association and the numerous funders of this project for their investment in Kentucky’s students.”

Since 2021, Coleman has worked with students across Kentucky to address the student mental health crisis, her office said. They hosted 10 summits, hearing from other students on resources they needed, before presenting policy recommendations to the Kentucky legislature through collected data. This has led to more than $40 million in federal funding coming to Kentucky for school-based mental health services.