Groundbreaking for a new clinic and a Golden Anniversary in Poplar Bluff
POPLAR BLUFF— With the turn of 15 golden shovels, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health (SEMOBH) celebrated the start of construction on its 10,378-square foot clinic on Sterling Drive in Poplar Bluff on Thursday, May 29.
Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health offers psychiatric evaluation, medication management, co-occurring counseling, family therapy, trauma therapy, care coordination, peer support, group counseling and group education. The $3.4 million project is funded with a 60/40 capital improvement match through the Missouri Behavioral Health Counsel and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
McGrath & Associates, Inc., a St. Louis-based firm, is the primary contractor for the project. The building is designed to provide a well-lit, comfortable, safe and secure experience for SEMOBH clients from the start to the finish of their treatment plans.
“Mental illness or substance abuse doesn’t discriminate; they can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, race or socioeconomic status,” SEMOBH President Cathy Schroer said. “Despite the increased number of people experiencing mental illness, there is still a great deal of stigma involved in acknowledging mental illness and seeking treatment. This stigma can be further exacerbated by the environments where people seek treatment.”
One woman’s chance for a brighter future
When she was released from prison in 2008, Crystal Parra got a job working at a fast food restaurant. She worked at Taco Bell for nine years. In that time, Parra also obtained an associate’s degree, but had a hard time finding more meaningful employment. Her start at SEMOBH came as a client looking for hope.
The work she did toward a better life led to a job at SEMOBH for Parra.
Parra did clerical work for SEMOBH while she underwent training to become a certified peer specialist with the Missouri Department of Mental Health. It was intimidating at times, but Parra pressed on and found opportunities to advance and to advocate for people struggling with recovery from substance use disorders.
“I was happy somebody was willing to give me a chance to start a career,” Parra said. “I can communicate with clients and relate to them on a level that helps them to engage in services.”
Parra is now a certified alcohol and drug counselor by the Missouri Credentialing Board. She has been a peer supporter, a group facilitator, a peer counselor and now a supervisor for other peer supporters. She has also maintained her own sobriety for more than 17 years.
“I’m grateful that I survived and I can help others,” Parra said.
Designing a modern mental health center
Hood Rich Architecture of Springfield, Missouri, designed the building to meet the Poplar Bluff community’s next generation of mental health needs. Hood Rich has designed several clinics for Brightli, parent company of Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health.
“There is a tremendous value we place on the buildings we design for Brightli,” Hood Rich Principal Billy Kimmons said. “We are not simply designing another building. We design spaces that promote hope and healing. We believe we serve a vital role in the healing process, and that through the decisions we make in a building’s design, we are helping people get to tomorrow.”
When designing a building where clients will undergo therapy, Kimmons said the design team works to balance comfort with requirements and cost effectiveness. Safety, security and sound control are all priorities. Designers comb through the details with the builders.
“Door hardware and wall assemblies are just a few examples of things we have to pay careful attention to,” Kimmons said. “Something as simple as a dimmer switch provides a level of control that might otherwise make a harsh light level unbearable. One thing I have learned is that there is more than one way to experience space, and it is our job to listen, learn and adapt.”
SEMOBH serves eight counties
In the summer of 2023, SEMOBH became part of Brightli, Inc., a parent company with a portfolio that also includes Burrell Behavioral Health and Preferred Family Healthcare, among other subsidiaries.
SEMOBH employs more than 200 people who offer individualized treatment for personal and family needs in substance use disorders, psychiatric and behavioral health in eight Missouri counties.
“We are very proud of the commitment that our employees show on a daily basis,” Schroer said. “Their dedication and compassion to serve others is the foundation of our agency, and without them we would not be able to serve our communities.”
SEMOBH also offers community and preventative service programs, including suicide prevention education training.
About Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health: For more than 50 years, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health’s team members have provided treatment to people suffering from substance use disorders, emotional problems, psychiatric disorders and other crises. Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health offers a variety of services, including medication assisted treatment, in eight counties in southeast Missouri. Learn more at http://semobh.org.