Boys and Girls Club looks to improve youth mental health; partners with Burrell Behavioral Health Services

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boys and Girls Club of Columbia has entered a partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health Services to improve mental health in children.

The partnership will allow behavioral health professionals to provide those in need of help with both individual and group services at all five Boys and Girls Club locations in Columbia.

The collaboration is looking to promote safe and positive environments for children who are struggling, as well as increase both their social and emotional skill development. 

“So not only were they missing out on those peer to peer interactions and those social supports, but because of the virtual environment (remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic), they were not as privy to those social cues,” Abigail Anderson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia, said. 

This service is designed differently from traditional therapy sessions because it allows health professionals to come to the house of the child, as long as parental consent is obtained. 

"All of the providers that work within that program go out to the community, they go out to people's homes, we go out to where people are because that's where they're experiencing their mental illness," Jessica Obuchowski, senior director of community services, said.

The services will begin within the next 60 days. Help can also be reached at the suicide and crisis hotline. The number is 988