Job Description

Job Title: Suicide Prevention Specialist

Location: Columbia, Missouri

Department: Crisis Services

Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Summary:

Help strengthen the response to individuals experiencing suicidality through prevention, early intervention, education, and compassionate engagement. The Suicide Prevention Specialist coordinates Zero Suicide care pathway follow-ups, delivers crisis intervention, supports accurate risk assessment, and collaborates with treatment teams and community partners to improve outcomes for high-risk clients. Join a compassionate, collaborative Crisis Services team committed to responsive care, continuous improvement, and suicide prevention across youth and adult populations.

This position offers…

• Employee Assistance Program – 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, & financial consultation for you and your household at no cost
• Mileage Reimbursement – Company paid for work functions requiring travel
• Employee Discounts – Hotels, Theme Parks & Attractions, College Tuition
• Workplace Culture - An environment cultivating employee wellbeing, valuing each individual's humanity, and actively promoting a healthy, joyful workforce
• Additional Perks & Benefits - Scroll down to bottom of this post to learn more

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the agency’s suicide care pathway by conducting timely client follow-ups, supporting safety planning, and connecting high-risk clients with appropriate care.
• Provide immediate crisis intervention by telephone or face-to-face based on client needs.
• Collaborate with treatment teams, hospitals, law enforcement, Crisis Services teams, and community stakeholders to support individuals experiencing suicidality or transitioning from hospital care.
• Educate agency staff and community partners about suicide risk factors, warning signs, lethal means, and evidence-informed prevention and intervention strategies.
• Support accurate and consistent suicide risk assessments within the electronic health record.
• Monitor suicide-prevention outcomes, maintain tracking reports, aggregate youth and adult population data, and document required information in the electronic health record.
• Partner with Quality Management to evaluate outcomes and strengthen the agency’s suicide-prevention response.
• Participate actively in the Zero Suicide Committee, risk-management reviews, death reviews, and other assigned meetings or committees.
• Follow agency, emergency, and corporate compliance policies while contributing feedback that supports effective program operations.

Education, Experience, and/or Credential Qualifications:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in a human services field; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Possess CPR/First Aid and CPI certifications.

Additional Qualifications:

• Demonstrate knowledge and skill in suicide-risk assessment, triage, crisis intervention, and the treatment of suicidality.
• Apply sound clinical judgment, problem-solving, decision-making, and time-management skills in high-risk situations.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing while maintaining accurate electronic health records.
• Demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and the ability to follow direction and accept supervision.
• Successfully complete required background screenings, including criminal record, driving record, abuse and neglect, and fingerprint checks.
• Maintain a current driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary work requiring up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, up to one-third of the time, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently, from one-third to two-thirds of the time, to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The position involves sitting most of the time, with brief or occasional periods of walking or standing, as well as repetitive movements of the hands, fingers, and arms for typing or writing during the work shift.

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness.

Brightli is on a Mission:

A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Burrell Behavioral Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.