State and federal officials have announced an effort to expand mental health services to veterans in western Kentucky.
Governor Steve Beshear's office said Tuesday the initiative calls for the start of "telemental" health services out of the Joseph "Eddie" Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson.
Telemental health offers mental health services by using live, interactive videoconferencing, mainly in rural and underserved communities. Beshear says its use at the Hanson facility will increase the quality of mental health services in the region and will decrease travel times veterans often face to other facilities.
The federally-operated Hanson Community Based Outpatient Clinic will provide telemental health services out of the Hanson state facility to veterans living in western Kentucky and the surrounding areas.