Mental health and wellness is for everyone. Every client. Every colleague. Every community.
The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is committed to improving the mental well-being and overall wellness of all Missourians. The Department is working to develop, promote, and implement an overall wellness program to help DMH team members and all Missourians be well and healthy where they live, work, learn, and play.
What is Wellness?
Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical, mental, and emotional health outcomes.
Our work is guided by The Eight Dimensions of Wellness, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Eight Dimensions of Wellness
Environmental - Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being
Emotional - Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
Financial - Satisfaction with current and future financial situations
Social - Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system
Spiritual - Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life
Occupational - Personal satisfaction and enrichment derived from one’s work
Physical - Recognizing the need for physical activity, diet, sleep and nutrition
Intellectual ;- Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
Adapted from Swarbrick, M. (2006) A Wellness Approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 311-314.
The Wellness Overview
Learn about practicing healthy habits everyday for a good quality of life.
DMH 8 Dimensions of Workplace Wellness Guide
DMH facilities, programs and regional offices can use the Eight Dimensions of Wellness to implement a holistic, comprehensive approach to wellness.
DMH CARES - Shift Change
Brief exercises to reduce stress and improve wellness during pre-shift, mid-shift, and post-shift.
DMH CARES - Three Good Things
A science-based exercise that promotes wellbeing, positivity, and gratitude.
Receive DMH CARES Microlearning Lessons to your mobile phone!
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services provides a free, step-by-step guide to wellness.
Healthiest Self Wellness Toolkit
National Institutes of Health wellness toolkits highlight evidence-based tips for living well and improving your health.
Mental Health America's workplace initiatives focus on employee's mental health and well-being and promote meaningful change in organizational practices.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides research-based tools and resources to help employers develop or expand a workplace health promotion program.
Wellness Initiatives
- Educational Courses
Embark on a transformative journey of learning and growth with the DMH Content Hub. Take free educational courses on mindfulness and stress management; trauma-informed care and peer support; mental health management and overall wellness; and so much more. These courses are for professionals or individuals to broaden their knowledge and techniques to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Course categories include:
Trauma Informed Care
Explore the comprehensive, self-paced courses on Trauma Informed Care to gain knowledge and skills to understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma. Learn about the Missouri Model for Trauma Care, Trauma Informed Care for Teens, Trauma Informed Care for Adults, Trauma Informed Care for Helping Professionals, and the Comprehensive Approach.
Disaster Services
It is vital be prepared for and know what to do during times of disaster. These types of events can be natural (tornado, drought, flood) or human caused events (mass violence and terrorism). Learn how to plan for disasters, about the phases of a disaster, how to manage mental health, stress reactions, and so much more.
Prevention
Knowing how and where to find help is vital. Learn about 988, the three-digit number providing 24/7 statewide crisis support via call, text, or chat. Get educated on what 988 is, how to use it, and so much more.
Wellness
Join the community of learners committed to prioritizing mental well-being and unlock the resources needed to thrive. Learn about the importance of sleep, mindfulness, time management, and resilience to begin cultivating a balanced and fulfilling life.
- DMH CARES
DMH CARES (Communicating and Reaching Employees Supportively) began as webinars during the COVID-19 pandemic. These were real-time virtual wellness webinars that were an opportunity for staff to connect with colleagues, get up-to-date COVID-19 information, hear from senior leadership, and learn about self-care and team-care strategies. These webinars originally started in April 2020 through June 2021 and then restarted in February 2022 through June 2022.
DMH CARES adapted the webinar content into a series of text based micro-learning lessons. Each bite-size lesson includes 60 second videos containing information about wellness topics, quotes, quiz questions, memes, GIFs, call to actions, and links to resources. Lessons can be accessed on the website or individuals can opt to sign up to receive the lessons every other week on their mobile phone.
Receive DMH CARES Microlearning Lessons to your mobile phone!
- MO Well-Being Playbook
The Missouri Well-Being Playbook was inspired by the American Hospital Association’s Well-Being Playbook and Well-Being Playbook 2.0. Through funding made possible by Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Missouri’s Crisis Counseling Program (CCP), “MO Show Me Hope,” the Missouri Well-Being Playbook aims to provide guidance to Missouri Department of Mental Health and other hospital systems around the state and spotlight strategies that have worked well to promote and sustain wellness for hospital systems. Though some strategies are specific to healthcare, many are general and can be applied to diverse workplace settings.
Resources Pages
- Anthropedia’s Take the Time Initiative
- Communicating & Messaging Wellness to Staff
- Creative Ways to Support Staff
- DMH Director's Leadership Academy
- HCPH's 15 Year Journey Using Sanctuary Model
- HRSA-Funded Pilot: Digital Engagement for Healthcare Worker Mental Health
- Fulton State Hospital’s SMART Transformation
- Managing Critical Incidents
- Missouri Model: A Developmental Framework for Trauma Informed Approaches
- State of Missouri Leadership Academy
- Shift Changes to Improve Wellness
- Tips to Engage Your Team About Wellness
- WeeCare Employee Benefit Options Pilot
- Public Health Infrastructure Grant
The Public Health Infrastructure Grant is intended to promote workforce mental health and well-being for local public health agencies.
WORKplace WELLbeing promotes overall organizational well-being through a trauma informed approach. It’s about building the infrastructure to create a safe culture in every corner of Missouri, so we can speak openly about mental health.
- TeachWell
TeachWell is a text-based wellness program from the Missouri Department of Mental Health as a thank you to educators. This program aims to support the mental health and well-being of educators, recognizing that their emotional and mental well-being directly impacts their ability to create a positive learning environment for students.
