Welcome to the official Internet site of Missouri’s Mental Health Transformation initiative. This site will provide updates of transformation initiatives as well as information on the progress of the active workgroups chartered to address specific topics designated as priorities by the state Transformation Working Group.
Missouri is one of nine states to receive a five-year federal grant for the transformation of its mental health service system. Though based in the state Department of Mental Health, this system involves all human service agencies whose objective is improved quality of life for the citizens of this state.
Under the leadership and charge of the governor of Missouri, the Transformation Working Group has brought together representatives of mental health, health, social services, employment, youth, older adult, and other services. The common goals are to foster communities of hope through cooperation and collaboration of effort, and to employ a public health approach to mental health service delivery.
Final reports on the accomplishments of Missouri's Mental Health Transformation initiative have been completed and are available for review. The general report, as well as a report evaluating specific Transformation projects have been posted to this web site at the following links:
Mental Health First Aid USA, a Missouri Mental Health Transformation initiative, was featured in the March 11, 2012, issue of USA Today. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a 12-hour course designed to teach the general public how to help individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Missouri currently has more than 180 MHFA instructors in the state.
A new video on Missouri's state government web page provides an overview of Mental Health First Aid and its benefits for those who participate in the course. Using footage from actual Mental Health First Aid courses and featuring comments from individuals taking the 12-hour course as well as officials involved in coordinating the state's efforts to provide the courses, the video provides insight on the value of the information provided.
To view the video click below or go to www.mo.gov and view on the State of Missouri website.
Washington, DC March 2, 2012 — Churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship are turning to an innovative training program to equip their congregations with the skills to recognize mental illness and respond to mental health emergencies. The program, Mental Health First Aid, helps people assess a mental health crisis, select interventions and provide initial help.
“The faith community has always felt a calling to help people, but has not always had the tools to assist people struggling with conditions like depression,” says Mike Johnson, a certified trainer and special projects director at Union Gospel Mission in Seattle. “Shortly after our first training, we realized that this was a resource the faith community had been missing.”
Marti Vogt, a certified trainer who works in the counseling center at Perimeter Church in Duluth, GA., says Mental Health First Aid gives compassionate people the practical skills to complement their spiritual gifts.
The results are in, and the second annual RESPECT Day at Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center (NMPRC) is an official success. Participation in the event, held January 25, nearly quadrupled from the first held last year, with more than 180 people in attendance from the center and the community.
It was a "fabulous day," according to Dee Kinder, an NMPRC staff member who worked on the planning committee.
"We offered speakers throughout the day as well as activities designed to educate people," said Gail Current, RESPECT coordinator at NMPRC. "It was gratifying to have so many people turn out to hear our speakers’ stories, educate people on the effects of mental illness, and hopefully reduce some of the stigma attached to those who have mental illness.”
Mental Health First Aid is taking shape in Missouri, five years after it was introduced in the state through the efforts of staff of the Mental Health Transformation grant, awarded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The five-year grant will wrap up by March, and sustaining Mental Health First Aid is a priority.
“Our main focus with Mental Health First Aid has been twofold,” said Benton Goon, co-chair of the state Transformation Working Group and Missouri’s representative on the national Mental Health First Aid USA planning team. “We wanted to train enough instructors so that the course is available in all areas of the state, and we wanted to initially target training to groups who are most receptive and where it could be most useful.”
Those objectives seem to have paid off. The state now has 183 certified instructors of Mental Health First Aid statewide, and – in addition to mental health agencies – higher education agencies and faith-based organizations have become partners in the effort to spread the word.
Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare of Missouri selected to participate.
Washington, DC, (November 8, 2011)—The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, in partnership with MTM Services and Hazelden, has selected 10 community behavioral health organizations to participate in its new Co-Occurring Disorder Learning Community. This initiative will enable participating organizations to enhance their ability to provide effective integrated and comprehensive care to individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Washington, DC, Oct. 5, 2011 — If your friend, co-worker or family member was suffering from an anxiety disorder, would you recognize the signs? Would you know how to help?
With October 2-8 being Mental Illness Awareness Week, Mental Health First Aid USA is encouraging people to learn the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Affecting more than 18 percent of U.S. adults (55 million people), it’s the most common mental disorder.
“Everyone experiences anxiety at some time, but being able to recognize an anxiety disorder early on could have a huge impact on someone’s life,” says Linda Rosenberg, the President and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, one of the three national entities that runs the Mental Health First Aid program. “If not treated, people with anxiety disorders are more likely to have negative outcomes later in life, including depression, alcohol and drug dependence and even suicide.”
With help and support of the St. Francois County Community Partnership and DMH staff, the St. Francois County Commission voted unanimously to officially form the St. Francois County Mental Health Board on August 30. The formation of the board will help solidify the Partnership's efforts to call attention to the mental health needs of the county's citizens.
The county commission currently is seeking candidates for the Mental Health Board of Directors.
"It's exciting to see that the needs and resource assessments and statistics that were gathered will now be put to good use," said Candy Zarcone, Special Programs Consultant for the St. Francois County Community Partnership. "I believe good changes are ahead!"
With the Transformation grant officially ending September 30, 2011, the state Transformation Working Group (TWG) held its final meeting Friday, September 23, in Jefferson City. A major part of that meeting involved a presentation on the accomplishments of the Transformation Initiative shared with Transformation's stakeholders through a live webcast.
"We have had so much going on the last five years, that we could have gone on for hours, but I believe we got the point across that we've accomplished much, and we are confident that the seeds we have planted will be cultivated and grown to full flower in the Department of Mental Health as well as other state and private agencies," according to Mayme Young, TWG chair.
