Missouri ASAP (Agencies for Suicide Assessment and Prevention) - Burrell Behavioral Health (Burrell) is requesting $800,000 to implement the Missouri ASAP (Agencies for Suicide Assessment and Prevention) project; an emergency community suicide prevention plan in response to COVID-19 to flatten the mental health curve and prevent the second wave of potential increased mental health concerns, including suicidality. AS Missouri's second largest Certified Community Behavioral Health Organization (CCBHO), Burrell serves two distinct service areas (SA) encompassing 17 counties in southwest and central Missouri. The project SA population exceeds 892,000; nearly one in five Missourians. 100% of the counties are designated Medically Underserved Areas and Communities. Grant dollars will support advancing community efforts to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among adults age 25 and older as the current COVID-19 crisis continues to contribute to the growth in the number of Americans needing urgent care to address mental health needs, including suicidality. Targeted communities of focus include; 1) domestic violence victims and their families; 2) individuals with serious mental illness (SMI); 3) individuals with substance use disorder (SUD); and 4) individuals with co-occurring behavioral health disorders (CODs). At the time of submission COVID-19 has impacted Burrell's service area with 669 known cases, this accounts for 17% of Missouri's 11,340 known cases. With Missouri counties all experiencing different paths to reopening, it is unclear when the COVID curve will flatten as cases have increased in Missouri by more than 50% since April 2020, when there were 5,111 cases detected. SAMHSA has referenced the increases in depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, isolation, loss of employment, financial instability and other challenges that will impact people's mental health; creating a crisis. Burrell's CEO, CJ Davis refers to this as the "second curve". While hospitals are concerned about being overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, mental health systems have concerns about the increase in demand for services as well. Missouri ASAP will provide funding and resources to implement a comprehensive community effort to reduce incidence and impact of suicide events and promote hope and healing in our geographic areas. ASAP's plan will reduce risk factors, increase protective factors and take a strategic approach to the design and implementation of the SAMHSA required activities. Burrell will work with community partners to create, implement and follow a comprehensive community suicide prevention plan that provides appropriate services to those in need and those affected by suicide. There will be significant planning with community partners to strengthen or improve current suicide prevention steps that are already in place and operating in the community, as well as add to the current suicide prevention plan based on the collective knowledge of the community partners. CARF accredited with over 1,600 staff, 26,000 persons served and $125 million in annual revenue, Burrell has over 42 years of experience as a stated designated CMHC. It is a current SAMHSA funding recipient (CCBHC-E, PBHCI, PATH, TREE, SOC) and is a SAMHSA Science and Service Award winner.
