Justin Ray on WNKY News 40: Access to Mental Health Care

Justin Ray, MSN, PMHNP-BC, founder of South Chesapeake Psychiatry, was interviewed by WNKY News 40 (Bowling Green, Kentucky) for a story marking Mental Health Awareness Week, October 4–10, 2026. Reporter Porsha Hernandez spoke with Justin and with Erica Hanner, clinical director for Adult Mental Health Services at CAYA, about the growing demand for psychiatric care, the shortage of providers to meet it, and why telehealth has become a lifeline for people who struggle to get to appointments.

Watch the segment on WNKY.com →

What They Talked About

• Depression as the leading cause of disability. Justin opens the segment with a point he makes often: depression is the number one cause of disability in the world. It is also one of the most treatable conditions in psychiatry when it is evaluated carefully. Learn how we approach depression treatment in Chesapeake, or read Anhedonia: The Overlooked Core of Depression.
• Policy changes that affect access. The story covers two federal changes: new Medicaid work and community-service requirements, and a Medicare rule, reported to take effect in 2028, that would require an in-person visit before a client’s first telehealth mental health service. Justin’s concern is simple: anything that makes it harder to find and keep a provider will be a problem for people who are already struggling.
• The provider shortage. Justin and Hanner both describe a shortage of psychiatric providers in Kentucky and nationwide, with far more people needing care than there are clinicians to see them. Keeping providers available to take on clients is, in Justin’s words, “a huge thing.”
• Why telehealth matters. For many people, the hardest part of treatment is getting to the appointment. Telehealth removes the drive, the time off work, and the childcare problem, so clients are more likely to follow through. South Chesapeake Psychiatry offers virtual psychiatry for eligible clients anywhere in Virginia.
• Seek help, and speak up for access. Both guests encourage anyone who is not doing well to reach out, and encourage those with a voice to advocate for better access to care. If you are not sure where to start, our free screening tool takes a few minutes, and you can schedule an appointment when you are ready.

Justin writes about access to care, new treatments, and the science behind them every week in The Neuropsychiatry Brief on LinkedIn. You can watch the full segment and read the story on WNKY.com. See also Justin’s recent conversation about support before a crisis on the Inside Out podcast.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911 in an emergency.