Burrell Behavioral Health celebrates Missouri Valley College partnership

Homecoming at Missouri Valley College marked the start of a partnership to bolster access to mental health services for college students. The partnership between Missouri Valley and Burrell Behavioral Health could also aid students who want to become counselors. 

More than 20 students were in the crowd for the unveiling of a Be Well bell on the Marshall campus Oct. 25. Burrell’s Be Well Community movement is designed to ring in a new narrative about brain health through a variety of programs, including ceremonial bells that symbolize hope and healing. 

Missouri Valley College President Joe Parisi said he is proud of the partnership and the influence it will have on the culture of care at the Marshall campus with a population of more than 1,500 students. Parisi spoke of a meeting he had with student government officials, who asked for resources to help students who struggle with well-being. 

“They said, ‘We need more resources,’” Parisi said. “’We need more resources surrounding mental health and care for our student population, and can you help us with that?’ and I said, ‘I can absolutely help you with that, and we’ll figure that out.’” 

Burrell mental health counselors started delivering full time services at Missouri Valley in the fall semester of 2024. Services are available in person and via telehealth. Telehealth services are available for students wishing to access psychiatry, group or individual services through Burrel's clinic in Marshall. 

From left: Dr. Joe Parisi, President of Missouri Valley College; Morgan Middleton, graduate student at Missouri Valley College; Mat Gass, Burrell Behavioral Health North-Central Regional President.

The Missouri Valley bell is the 18th Be Well Bell delivered to a community where Burrell Behavioral Health serves clients. Students in the college’s graphic design program designed the bell on a theme of pillars, with each pillar representing a quality — like teamwork or dreams. The bell will stand just inside the front door of the Malcolm Student Life Center, with a QR code available for students to scan on their smart device and access Burrell Behavioral Health services. 

Morgan Middleton is a student at Missouri Valley who plans to graduate with a master’s degree in counseling in the spring of 2025. Middleton, an assistant coach of the cheerleading team at Missouri Valley, shared how her decision to seek counseling for herself as an undergraduate student changed the trajectory of her college career and helped her find a new sense of self-worth. 

“Counseling has helped me shape who I am today. Now that Valley is partnering with Burrell, I can’t wait to see how many other students will benefit from Burrell,” Middleton said. “Counseling may look different for everyone, but it sure is worth it.” 

Burrell Behavioral Health North-Central Regional President Mat Gass is a Missouri Valley College alumnus. He spoke directly to the students at the bell unveiling ceremony. 

“The thing that I will remember most as we started this partnership was getting to spend some time with each of you in the psychology club and hearing why you’re here, and it was really about making an impact and a difference in the world, and I think this partnership is exactly that,” Gass said. 

According to an estimate Gass quotes during his address to students, 70 percent of the 116 counties in Missouri have a shortage of mental health care workers. 

As part of the partnership, Burrell employees and their families will have access to Missouri Valley’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Burrell will be able to draw on Missouri Valley students for internships and will look to counseling graduates as future employees.  

About Burrell Behavioral Health: 

Burrell Behavioral Health is part of Brightli, an organization that employs more than 5,000 people. Burrell Behavioral Health serves 18 Missouri counties and provides behavioral health, substance-use treatment, case management, crisis, developmental disability, and employment services. 

Burrell Behavioral Health Marhsall location can be found at 941 S. Cherokee St. Learn more at burrellcenter.com 

About Missouri Valley College: 

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.