Mental wellness is an important part of living a healthy, meaningful life. Experiencing good mental health helps people handle stress, build healthy relationships, and care for themselves and others. An increased understanding of mental health positively impacts how people think, feel, and act in their daily lives and results in improved overall well-being. When mental health needs are not met it can lead to increased physical problems, social isolation, substance use, and shorter life expectancy. Mental health needs are common among people with developmental disabilities. In Kentucky, about 1 in 4 people with a developmental disability experiences an anxiety disorder, 1 in 3 experience mood disorders like depression, and many others experience other mental health conditions.
Rural Kentuckians often face unique challenges to receiving mental health support. Limited access to services, privacy concerns, and stigma can all create barriers. To address these barriers it is important to expand access to mental health resources and to ensure people know how, when, and where to find them. Increased knowledge of services helps break down stigma and removes barriers to getting the care and support people need.
Rooted & Rising, a new project at the Human Development Institute (HDI), made possible by a grant from the Kentucky Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities (CCDD), will focus on understanding the needs and gaps of mental health services for people with developmental disabilities in rural Kentucky communities. Rooted & Rising will enhance mental health services through training, community outreach, and partnerships. This project will run from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026, and will be guided by people with lived experience to ensure that the voices of rural Kentuckians with developmental disabilities lead the work in making mental health supports and services easier to access.
HDI’s mission is to advance efforts that build inclusive communities, address disparities, and improve the lives of all people who experience disability across the lifespan. This project strives to determine the disparities experienced by Rural Kentuckians and improve the services provided to build inclusive communities.
For more information or questions, contact Kristen Dahl at kristen.dahl@uky.edu.
