Client Spotlight: Behavioral Health Response

To help further their mission and shine a light on the work that drives our community forward, we will be spotlighting some extraordinary clients with which we have had the honor of working with. 

Today, we’re talking to the CEO and President of Behavioral Health Response, Pat Coleman. Thank you so much for your willingness to share with our readers a bit about yourself, Behavioral Health Response and the impact it is having in our community. 

Q: Tell us about Behavior Health Response. 

Behavioral Health Response provides crisis support, telephone counseling, and mental health services. 

Turning 27 years old in October, BHR has provided 24-hour access to mental health services and counseling. We’re a nonprofit corporation of trained clinicians and professionals who treat those in need with dignity, respect, excellence, and compassion.

Mental health services and awareness have changed dramatically since our founding in 1994. Our mission, however, remains the same: to ensure immediate, barrier-free access to behavioral health care. We leverage the latest technology and knowledge in our everyday practice to provide the best possible care to every caller, every day.

Q. How did you first get involved with Behavioral Health Response? 

Starting off as an entrepreneur 24 years ago, Coleman was presented the opportunity to work with BHR as an HR Consultant with her firm The Coleman Group. That is when she grew the company's HR department from the ground up starting with 25 employees and increasing to today's count of 180.

As time passed, Pat was asked to join full-time and step down from The Coleman group.

“At heart, I am an entrepreneur.” 

Due to timing and personal reasons, it was fate that she transitioned into a HR manager role. From there she progressed from Director of HR, VP of Operations and under mentorship landed the CEO & President role in 2012. 

“Facing many crossroads in life, it’s always good to have the right people around you. Mentors are everything.” 

Q: Please tell us about Behavioral Health Response services.
BHR has many resources for free and for anyone. “Mental health does not discriminate.” Due to BHR’s continuous efforts only 3% of the people who call their hotlines go to the hospital. 

• 24/7 Crisis Hotline 

  • The Behavioral Health Response crisis support hotline offers confidential telephone counseling when it’s needed most. All services provided in the eastern region of Missouri are free of charge. Our support lines for adults and youth provide confidential care and support 24/7. Speak to a mental health clinician who will respond attentively and compassionately to your needs. We will ask you questions about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and make recommendations for care. The information you provide is always confidential.

• Youth Support 

  • Behavioral Health Response Youth Connection Helpline, started in 2010, offers 24/7 crisis support for children, youth, and their families. Youth 19 years and under who reside in St. Louis City or County, St. Charles County, and Franklin County can chat with a clinician. The Youth Services include follow-up programs to ensure the safety and support of those in need. Our coordinators provide emotional support, referral assistance, and continued follow-up until a crisis situation has been resolved. The Youth Support Program is a collaboration among multiple partners along with Behavioral Health Response including Youth In Need and the St. Louis County Safe Place Network in the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County areas.

• Mental Health Resources 

  • At BHR, we believe in making mental health resources available to anyone in need. We’ve collected a variety of resources, developed by our counselors and organizations that share our mission, to guide and support those struggling with mental health. Check out all that BHR has to offer here. 

Q: How has the pandemic impacted the organization? 

When the pandemic hit, BHR never closed its doors or turned off the phones. Within a few days, everyone in the call centers successfully transitioned to working from home with no interruptions. 

BHR's Community Relations Department has provided 469 virtual presentations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting 3,848 adults and 3,927 youth. In partnership with Resilience Builders and Missouri Behavioral Health Council, BHR completed a Trauma-Informed Organizational Assessment for the second time in two years confirming BHR is a trauma-informed agency according to the Missouri Model.

As a result of the pandemic, BHR is now reaching out to corporations and workforces to help improve mental health in the workplace. The pandemic has shown people that they are dealing with more serious issues than EAP can address.

Q: How does a business or company become a partner with Behavioral Health Response? 

We partner with organizations and communities to make support accessible and confidential to ensure employees, neighbors, classmates, and colleagues receive the best care. Currently, HBR has a large partner program with law enforcement agencies and local hospitals involved. Our Crisis Intervention Teams are great examples of what can be accomplished when partnering with HBR. With the help of these partners, we can make mental health a priority in our communities.

Is your organization interested in partnering or need additional information about how we can better support your business needs? Please complete this form.

Q. Why is it important to you to have partners like Jim and Concannon Insurance Agency as the leader of BHR?

“Crane Agency has been with us since the beginning…They have been here for us and we can trust them. The level of customer care and attention is what keeps us coming back. We can always pick up the phone and Jim will always be there with answers.” 

Q: What is the greatest challenge for BHR? How can our community best support you and BHR?

Funding is the greatest challenge and keeping the organization sustainable. BHR is high-tech and the best way to help is any kind of IT-focused help or donations.

Q. You recently wrote a chapter in the book: “Owning Your Grit”! So first, congratulations. Can you share what it is about and where we can find a copy? 

“Owning Your Grit!” is a book composed of stories from 40 women and how to harness the power of resilience and tenacity. Coleman’s chapter is about the acronym: GRIT. Coleman wrote this chapter with the goal to inspire the next generation of leaders. As she stated, everyone always needs to be reminded of the basics. 

Grace

Resourcefulness

Initiative

Thickskin

You can find a copy of the book here. 

To learn more, visit BHR.org

If you’re in crisis, call

1-800-811-4760

Local: 314-469-6644

We’ll help you right away, any time of day.