Seven Counties Services is launching two mobile health units to address Kentucky’s pressing challenges of mental health, addiction, and gun violence. The initiative will serve Jefferson County and six surrounding counties, bringing behavioral health services directly to underserved communities.
The mobile units are staffed by licensed behavioral health providers and peer specialists with lived experience in recovery. According to Brydie Harris, director of Community Impact at Seven Counties Services, the goal is to ensure that people experiencing crises feel supported rather than constrained. The units plan to partner with schools, churches, and community groups to provide both immediate crisis intervention and ongoing education and outreach.
Dr. Liz McKune, chief operating officer at Seven Counties Services, highlighted a core challenge: “There’s not enough behavioral health providers to go around in our community. We’ve got to work together and figure out how do we hand off to one another.” Beyond crisis intervention and mental health care, the units will distribute essential harm reduction tools, including Narcan and gun locks, to communities. Derek Preister, vice president of Addictions Services, emphasized the critical timing: “People don’t often have a second or third chance to access services. When you have substances that are that lethal, what this does is put us in those communities.”
The mobile units are designed to provide both reactive crisis support and proactive education to foster healthier and safer communities. Dr. McKune noted that the initiative reflects shared responsibility: “It impacts all of us, and so we are working together and are hopeful that we can make a difference and see those numbers begin to decline.”
For immediate support, individuals can contact Seven Counties Services at (502) 589-1100. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available at 988 or by texting “LOU” to 741-741.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.wlky.com/article/mobile-health-units-mental-health-addiction-gun-violence-kentucky/65566898