On Feb. 18, the Greene County Commission and leaders of Burrell Behavioral Health signed a contract that will provide $1 million in public funding for a 24/7 behavioral health crisis center – the first of its kind in southwest Missouri – for those experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis.
The center, which will be located at 800 S. Park Ave., is set to open this spring and will serve adults ages 18 and up with emergent mental health and substance-use needs (excluding situations requiring acute medical care). The Park Avenue site is currently the home of a social-setting detox unit.
“This contract signing is a real milestone. It is the result of a great deal of research, study and collaboration on the part of not just the commission, but many individuals and agencies who continue to work together to bring needed resources and services to the citizens of our community,” said Greene County Commissioner Harold Bengsch, who serves as co-chair of the Healthy Living Alliance’s Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force. “The commission feels funding this unique center is a step in the right direction to address our county’s growing mental health needs.”
Background
In 2017, Greene County voters passed a sales tax that prioritized, among other resolutions, funding to address mental health and substance use needs. Since that time, the commission has collaborated at a variety of levels to identify specific needs and solutions that would provide much-needed care, while easing the burden on law enforcement, emergency responders and the criminal justice system.
The county, along with community partners, came together in 2018 and 2019 to study mental health and substance use in-depth. The study, which was spearheaded by the Healthy Living Alliance and is available at ozarkshealthcommission.org/sgfmentalhealth.html, indicated that Greene County’s suicide rate (24.8 per 100,000) is higher than both the state (18.5) and national averages (14). Similarly, the county depression rate, measured by the Medicare population with depression (22.8%) is also higher than the state (20%) or nation (16.7%).
Greene County has fewer inpatient beds (37.8 beds per 100,000 population) than national standards (50 beds per 100,000). According to the study, stigma associated with mental health and substance use was an often-cited barrier — one in three young adults (age 18-35) chose not to get treatment because of stigma. The 18-month study further identified crisis stabilization as a key need. This prompted local leadership to visit “rapid access” crisis clinics in Kansas and Indiana, where citizens experiencing a behavioral health or substance-use crisis can get immediate stabilization and treatment. It was determined that a similar model could be employed locally.
“… we are beyond appreciative to the Greene County Commission for trusting Burrell with the establishment and service provision of this rapid-access behavioral crisis center,” said Burrell President and CEO Dr. C.J. Davis. “With our governmental, law enforcement and health care partners all on board, we feel this unique concept will be an enormous asset for Springfield and Greene County, and serve as a blueprint for collaborative, crisis-level mental health care nationally. This truly is a historic moment for our community.”