Friends & Family
Allies
You have navigated to this page because you care about a young person in your life – thank you for being an ally! An ally is someone who provides support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle.
They provide encouragement and support in a safe and nonjudgmental way and work together with an individual on their journey through life. They help to reduce behavioral health stigma by taking an active role as an ally.
Want to connect better with youth?
Many adults are unknowingly susceptible to adultism, the assumption that young people are inferior to adults because of their young age. Using this tip sheet, learn how to form empowering, professional relationships with youth.
Worried about a young person in your life?
Mental Health America has some great information on how to recognize signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues in children, teens and young adults.
Want to be a better ally?
The Jefferson Center, a behavioral health center in Colorado, has provided several ideas on how to be a supportive ally in someone’s life!
Need to find a TAYLRD Drop-In Center?
A TAYLRD drop-in center is a safe place where young people can come by at short notice to get support in reaching their goals and connect to resources.
Need to find a mental health center?
Kentucky’s Community Mental Health Centers provide a comprehensive range of accessible, coordinated, direct, or indirect mental health services through Kentucky’s 14 regions.
National Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. They provide crisis support, advocacy, education and research.
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 mental health support via text message.
Mental Health America (MHA) supports the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness through advocacy, education, research and services.
Research and Training Center for Pathways to Positive Futures works to improve the lives of youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions through rigorous research and effective training and dissemination of best practices.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provide advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
Kentucky Resources
Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children (KPFC) empower families and youth affected by behavioral health challenges to initiate personal and systems change.
KY Special Parent Involvement Network (KY-SPIN) link families and individuals with disabilities to valuable resources that will enable them to live productive, fulfilling lives.
KY Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities provides oversight and support to a variety of behavioral health providers across the state.
Find Help Now is a Kentucky based website that provides a directory of various addiction treatment facilities who are taking clients at this time.
Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ Resources
Lexington Addiction Center
28 Addiction and Mental Health Resources For Asian American College Students
Southeast Addiction Center
2023’s Top 50 resources for Black men who are struggling with substance use and/or their mental health.
The Summit Wellness Group
Written and curated by women of color, this guide features over 60 different resources.
Live Another Day
Extensive information on mental health and substance use resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Their mission is equal access to life-saving resources.
LGBT National Help Center
All support volunteers of the LGBT National Help Center identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ family, and serve the entire community, by providing free and confidential peer-support, information, and local resources through national hotlines and online programs.