LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — About 800 Kentuckians die by suicide each year, according to University of Kentucky researchers at Coldstream Research Campus. A program called “Code Red” is working to change that.

“Unfortunately, in Kentucky, we’re the 15th worst state. And so even though we have all these resources, there’s still a lot of room to be done,” researcher Julie Cerel said.

That reality pushed Cerel to ask a simple question: What if people had a plan before their worst day?

“Code Red is an acronym, so it stands for Contact, delay, relax, and distract,” Cerel said.

The idea is to create a personal plan before a crisis hits, so it is ready when it is needed most.

“We really want to make sure that what people put in their plan is what they think is going to help them,” Cerel said.

The plan includes who you can reach out to, what gives you a reason to stay, and what helps you relax or find distraction. One number is part of every Code Red plan: 988. Available to call or text, day or night.

“People will answer that call within 1 minute. They’ll answer a text within 5 or 6 minutes,” Cerel said.

Code Red has expanded into classrooms and other workplaces across the state.

“We’ve had about 15,000 people make their own Code Red plans,” Cerel said.

The program is also gaining national recognition, earning a spot in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s evidence-based registry. That designation opens the door for the program to expand beyond Kentucky.

As Code Red continues to grow, Cerel says one of the simplest things anyone can do right now is talk.

“Raising awareness and also decreasing stigma, having people understand they’re not alone,” Cerel said.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., signed an executive order on Tuesday that aims to provide medical debt relief to 130,000 Kentuckians.

The order establishes the Team Kentucky Medical Debt Relief Program, which would erase $250 million in medical debt.

“Medical debt isn’t a choice — it’s what people are faced with after a serious accident, cancer diagnosis and more. Relieving this debt is the right thing to do to help Kentuckians who are overwhelmed by these extreme costs, which can cripple families for years, if not a lifetime,” said Beshear. “That’s especially true when medical debt results in bad credit, which can prevent families from securing the American Dream of owning a home. Unpredictable challenges shouldn’t be a barrier for a better future, and today we’re taking steps to help make sure that isn’t the case.”

By executive order, Beshear designated $2.5 million to Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has eliminated more than $49 billion in debt nationwide. The nonprofit buys medical debt from hospitals and collection agencies at a reduced price. In Kentucky, every dollar spent results in $100 being erased, according to a news release.

“We’re proud to partner with Gov. Beshear and Team Kentucky to lift the financial and emotional burden of medical debt for families across the commonwealth,” said Courtney Story, Undue Medical Debt vice president of government initiatives. “No one chooses to get sick, get injured or face financial hardship simply because they needed healthcare.”

The release said that there is no application process for the program, and Kentuckians whose debt has been cleared will receive an official letter from Team Kentucky and Undue Medical Debt.

Starting this week, the first 46,000 people will have up to $100 million in medical debt erased. Letters will go out in the mail beginning next week to notify those individuals that some or all of their medical debt has been erased, the release said.

To be eligible for the program, a person must reside in Kentucky and either owe at least 5% of their yearly income in medical bills or have an income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, approximately $100,000 for a family of three.

A Murray man was arrested Sunday on a violation of an emergency protective order and other charges.

The Calloway County Sheriff’s Office said 34-year-old Devin Edwards of Murray was first arrested September 3rd on a charge of violation of an emergency protective order.

Further investigation into the case led to Edwards’ arrest Sunday on additional charges of intimidating a witness and attempting to destroy physical evidence related to the case.

Edwards was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.