Intellectual Wellness
Learning new things is a huge part of meeting your intellectual wellness needs. Our brains respond nicely to learning new information and gaining new skills.
One excellent resource that can help you learn relevant information on managing stress is Pause First Academy, Click here to log in. This online training platform delivers courses on various topics that are relevant to Corrections' employees. Trainers from Pause First Academy have all served in first responder roles and understand how to counter the impact of stress while improving personal wellness and building resiliency to future stress. Courses on Pause First Academy are eligible for elective training credits. All DOC employees are eligible for a free 'Premier' Pause First Academy membership, and can take courses at no cost. To claim your account, email wellness@doc.mo.gov.
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Social Wellness
MoDOC Employee Wellness efforts had a focus on social wellness from July to October 2022. One goal of this campaign was to recognize the efforts our employees take to be socially responsible and treat themselves, and other well.
During July, the third employee wellness challenge, Kindness Counts, allowed employees to document their acts of kindness. Over 500 employees participated and took the time to write out the good they have done for others, received or witnessed. This platform for positivity guided many individuals towards mindfulness on the effect they have on others, and the good things that we do for each other day to day. It was also an opportunity to think about how we are all able to be sources of positivity. Positive social interactions are an excellent way to meet your social wellness needs and counter the impact of stress.
To the left we have Deputy Warden Latonia Young from SECC supporting the Kindness Counts challenge. Thank you, Latonia!
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Following the Kindness Counts challenge, there was another called, "We Help". We Help encouraged employees to track time spent on community volunteering efforts. Volunteering in your community is an excellent use of time, allows you to connect with others, and creates positive experiences. If you're interested in participating by entering your hours, you're in luck! The ONLINE ENTRY FORM will be open until this Friday, November 4th. Winners will be announced later this month, stay tuned!
Environmental Wellness
Environmental Wellness is all about how we impact, and are impacted by the environments we occupy. Taking care of your surroundings includes reducing waste, contributing positive energy when possible, and protecting our planet. Corrections' work environments can contribute stress to our lives. In order to counter the impact, here are some key actions to support yourself and others:
- Talk about health and wellbeing in everyday conversations;
- Become aware of the worksite supports that we have in place...learn more here: MoDOC Cares Webpage ;
- Contribute to a healthy planet by reducing waste.
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Physical and Nutritional Wellness
Managing your physical health can take a lot of effort and consistency. Luckily, there are resources to help with this as it can be difficult to do while working full time, over time, and/or experiencing chronic stress.
Anthem.com, and their mobile app, Sydney health, contain a wealth of information and guidance on physical health issues, as well as mental health support resources. Employees and family members who have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, feel encouraged to get to know this website, their mobile app, and gain understanding of all the features that lie within. Using the Sydney app, individuals can access their health insurance cards, challenge themselves to health improvements, and schedule telehealth visits with medical professionals. Being so easy to use, the Sydney health app has been consistently breaking the barriers of time, inconvenience, and having to visit multiple sources for healthcare.
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For additional support and encouragement when working towards your goals, give WONDR Health a try!
WONDR Health is an incredibly flexible 40-week program that doesn't focus on pounds, nor does it make any particular food or drink off-limits. The program helps you develop the best eating and exercise habits for your body and your goals.
To sign up for the waitlist for the next class:
CLICK HERE
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Spiritual wellness
One element of spiritual wellness is knowing your purpose. Purpose is what drives us to continue working towards our goals. Stress, negative encounters, and exposure to trauma can make it difficult to remember our purpose, meaning, and the best parts of life. During difficult times, putting out the best intentions for ourselves and others can help. One platform for this that exists specifically for those who work in corrections is Desert Waters. On their Spiritual Wellness webpage you can elect to submit a prayer request: CLICK HERE. Sharing your needs, and lifting up the needs of others in this way is healthy, safe, and validates difficulties. Each month they also launch a publication called Correctional Oasis. Check out November's as well as past volumes here: Download your copy.
From November to February, employee wellness efforts will focus on the spiritual dimension of wellness. During this awareness campaign you will see information on resources and have the opportunity to participate in live webinars from subject matter experts. There will also be a spiritual wellness employee challenge in February called, Write On. This challenge will be a platform for balance through journaling.
NEW SUPPORT RESOURCE ALERT!
Reboot Recovery is a spiritual wellness resource that has just recently been advertised to Missouri DOC employees. This organization has been around for over 10 years and has a global reach. Reboot Recovery offers peer-led 12-week courses on moving past trauma in positive ways. One of their programs is geared towards those who serve in first responder roles, and their family members; Reboot First Responders.
Stacey Smith, a Recovery Reboot group leader from St Louis, is currently hosting an exclusive 12-week course for Missouri DOC employees and their families. This course just started on October 27th, but it is not to late to join in. Class meets virtually every Thursday evening from 7:30 PM to approximately 9 PM, skipping holiday weeks. Participants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting after registering here: REBOOT (click the link, complete the form and select St Louis as the location), and at the beginning of each week throughout the course. Registration will remain open until class #3 on November 10th.
This course comes with access to an online MyReboot platform where you can download all course materials. There is also an option to purchase a kit with a workbook, journal and copy of "Healing What's Hidden", for yourself if interested.
*If anyone would like to have their own Missouri DOC Wellness paperback journal, feel free to request them by emailing wellness@doc.mo.gov."
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Emotional Wellness
Emotional Wellness is all about balance and how we process strong feelings. When we are struggling with something involving emotion of any kind, discussions about it can be difficult. Saying how we feel, in itself, can be hard to do. Having an open conversation may be a good start on a pathway for healing. Licensed professionals are good resource for this, particularly with topics that are not easy to talk about. GuidanceResources (part of our employee assistance program, SELF), can help you find a licensed professional as needed: GuidanceResources.
Our in-house resource for non-licensed peer support is PACT, access the PACT Roster here. Receiving support from a peer is a great place to start when determining which resource would best suit your particular needs.
Several external resources are also listed below, with links to their websites for more information.
Crisis Text Line Frontline Therapy Network Missouri Crisis Intervention Team
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