Burrell shares vision for a comprehensive, 24/7 Behavioral Crisis Center in Columbia, MO

(August 11, 2021) -- Burrell Behavioral Health on Wednesday outlined plans the Community Mental Health Center has to build a comprehensive Behavioral Crisis Center in Columbia.

The proposed Behavioral Crisis Center (BCC) would be a 24/7/365 facility offering a full continuum of care for Columbia and Boone County citizens experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis. Services at the facility would include 23-hour stabilization, psychiatric assessment, and an up-to-three-day stay in an Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit.

Burrell also announced a partnership with local addiction recovery nonprofit Phoenix Programs to potentially build the facility on Phoenix property, allowing for seamless referral of those who visit the BCC in need of longer-term social-setting detox treatment, which Phoenix already provides at this location. Along with programming details, Burrell shared renderings of what the exterior of the crisis center could look like.

The City of Columbia has budgeted $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funds to be put toward a behavioral health crisis facility in Columbia. That budget is currently awaiting approval from city council. Last year, Burrell opened a Behavioral Crisis Center in Springfield, Mo., with the help of a $1 million contribution from Greene County, as well as support from the Missouri Foundation for Health and local medical systems. In its first year, the Springfield Behavioral Crisis Center saved the community at least $4.4 million in averted costs to local law enforcement, first responders and hospital emergency departments.

“We need a Behavioral Crisis Center. We need to balance the impact on our hospital systems and our law enforcement,” said Mat Gass, President, Burrell Behavioral Health Central Region.

Burrell was joined at the announcement by local elected officials and community healthcare leaders, who helped frame the need for such a facility in Columbia and Boone County. Those who spoke included: City of Columbia Mayor Brian Treece; Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson; Phoenix Programs Board President Greg DeLine; and Boone Hospital President & CEO Troy Greer.

“We have the opportunity to replicate this very successful crisis center right here in Columbia,” said Brian Treece, Mayor, City of Columbia.

In all, Burrell treated nearly 1,650 individuals in the first year at its Southwest Missouri Behavioral Crisis Center, and estimates similar impact for mid-Missouri.

“A Behavioral Crisis Center is a community solution to a community problem,” said C.J. Davis, President & CEO, Burrell Behavioral Health. “This program saves lives.”

Image: Rendering courtesy Burrell Behavioral Health. Rendering may not reflect final design.

Contact: Matt Lemmon, Vice President of Communications, Burrell Behavioral Health, 417-415-1386; Nathan Fleischmann, Director of Public Relations, Burrell Behavioral Health, 573-355-3628, nathanial.fleischmann@burrellcenter.com

About Burrell Behavioral Health:

Burrell Behavioral Health is the second largest behavioral health center in Missouri, working with more than 45,000 clients across 25 counties in Missouri and Arkansas. Burrell has more than 450 licensed providers offering a full continuum of care through our integrated network. Services include individual therapy and counseling, addiction recovery, psychiatric and medication management, educational and therapeutic groups, crisis intervention, medication-assisted treatment, adult stabilization, case management, residential treatment, autism, diagnostic testing and evaluations and developmental disability support. Learn more about Burrell’s programs and services at www.burrellcenter.com.