Wellness

SSM Health/SLU SOM Behavioral Health provides medical trainees with access to confidential, professional behavioral health services at no out-of-pocket cost. SSM Heath & SLU are concerned about the well-being and success of our medical trainees and recognizes you may encounter an array of issues and challenges throughout your life.  Behavioral Health Programmatic Support meetings are available for program discussion/debriefing
 
Residents and students can receive consultation for any problem or life event that may be causing distress, or to enhance their personal wellness. To schedule an appointment call the confidential access line at 314-977-1066. You may also inquire about available services or appointment scheduling via email at SLBMI.SLU@uhsinc.com
 
Appointments are available Wednesdays or Thursdays alternating every other week between telehealth (11am-7pm) or on-campus (8am-4pm) at the Margaret McCormick Doisy Learning Resources Center at Schwitalla Hall, Room M201.
 
Off-campus appointments are available through St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. For more information call 314-977-1066 or email SLBMI.SLU@uhsinc.com

• Chaplains at SLU Hospital: 314-577-8066
• University Counseling Center: 314-977-8255
• Department of Public Safety: 314-977-3000
• Life Crisis Services: 314-647-4357
• National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255
• Behavioral Health Response: Local Crisis Hotline: 314-469-6644
• Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-859-9319
• University Health Plan- Behavioral Health Program: 314-977-1066
• Academic Success Center: Mark Pousson 314-977-8885
• Academic and Psychological Testing Psychological Services Center: 314-977-2278
• Physician Support Line: 1-888-409-0141
• SSM Health Behavioral Health Urgent Care: 314-257-7430
• SSM Health Personal Assistance (PAS) is staffed by licensed life management experts and live support is available 24/7 by calling 800-356-0845

SSM Health has opened its second Behavioral Health Urgent Care at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) to treat emotional and behavioral conditions for people suffering from mental health issues. For urgent issues, this center has a walk-in clinic that provides behavioral health assessment, treatment, and referral to supporting services. Located at the newly renovated SLUH legacy emergency department (3635 Vista Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110, 314-257-7430).  This site is open Monday-Saturday 9am - 7pm.  No appointment is needed/accepted.

SSM Health Behavioral Health Urgent Care website

To promote inter-program/departmental wellness activities, the GME office offers a competitive funding opportunity for collaborative wellness activities. Please see past award winners below:

• Tonya Vernon (Hematology/Oncology) and Frances Copeland (Child Neurology): Group Yoga Sessions for GME Coordinators
• Emily Cybulla (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and Abigayle Schnell (Pharmacology and Physiology): Mindfulness Walk for post-doctoral trainees

• Sleep and Rest
• Adverse Events
• Lifestyle Medicine
• Yoga & Meditation Strategies for Medical Professionals

• Resident Wellness Toolkit
• Mini-Z Burnout Self-Assessment
• ACP Burnout and Wellness Presentation
• Alcohol Rehab Help
• Managing Stress
• Coping Facts for Older Adults After a Traumatic Incident
• MO-HOPE Project for Overdose and Naloxone Education
• Resources and Community for Physician Families
• Psychological First Aid
• Mental Health Before a Surge
• Mental Health During a Surge
• Burnout Assessment Tools
• SLU Faculty and Staff Guide for Responding to Students of Concern
• Depression Self-Assessment
• PHQ-9 Depression Screening Questionnaire
• Substance Abuse Self-Assessment
• Student Mental Health Guide
• Remote Mental Health Guide
• Treatment and Recovery
• Finding Addiction Treatment
• CAGE Questionnaire for Alcohol Use
• Types of Drugs: Addiction and Abuse
• Alcohol Effects, Treatment & Resources
• How to Tell if Someone is on Drugs
• MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) Waiver Training 
• Substance Use Disorder 101 Core Training
• American Psychiatric Association Wellbeing and Burnout
• AMA Steps Forward Modules
• Suicide Prevention Resource List
• Missouri Physicians Health Program
• National Academy of Medicine: Clinician Well-Being Knowledge Hub
• National Academy of Medicine: Key Resources for Improving Clinician Well-Being
• Video by Mayo Clinic and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention about physician suicide
• UCLA Mindful Awareness
• Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges.
• Headspace
• Fitness Blender
• Mental Health Resources for Young Adults with Bipolar Disorder
• SSM Health Behavioral Health Urgent Care
• STL Professionals Health Program

• Mindfulness and Resiliency Space on the second floor of Schwitalla Hall. This room is dedicated to accommodating the residents and students as a tranquil, peaceful place for reflection, meditation and prayer. Private, curtained spaces offer privacy for trainees.
• GME Wellness Program: This program is in development with your input from the AMA Organizational Biopsy.
• Reimbursement for rideshare services (taxi, Uber, etc.) for residents too fatigued to safely drive home.
• GME Professional Oversight Committee monitors resident duty hours and fatigue concerns.
• Mindfulness training for all incoming interns.
• SLURA officers who are available to residents to hear concerns and as liaison to GME office.
• SLUCare Easy Access offers same-day/next-day urgent care medical visits for residents and faculty.
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: Initiated by nursing managers through nursing leadership to discuss difficult situations. This is often done within a week and physicians/students are invited.
• Staff Support Groups: Unit-based support with a minimum of four sessions (includes weekend and all shifts).
• Donation drives to collect items for patients.
• Discharge with dignity closet: Staff-contributed clothing and other personal care items given to patients (and staff) who are in need.
• Comfort cart, which makes rounds on floors with snacks. This is done on special occasions and holidays.
• Lavender cart: When a difficult situation arises, a cart comes to the area with snacks, stress relieving items, personal care items. It is kept in nursing supervisor’s office and stays in area for 12 to 24 hours. This is available 24/7.
• Roving Basket: Every two weeks, the basket goes to a different department. Baskets are filled with treats, gifts and "thank you" cards. Baskets are then refilled and passed to the next department.
• Hospital Week, which includes a picnic BBQ lunch for staff/physicians.
• Holiday Lunches: Free “Holly Day” Christmas and Thanksgiving lunch for staff/physicians.
• Just Culture Initiative
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Training: All nurses and emergency medicine personnel are trained with a self-care component included.
• Hospital Wide Safety/Wellness Committee: Residents can participate on this committee which addresses safety in workplace.
• Call room space is available for all resident students who are in need of a place to rest.
• Employee Assistance Program: Provides free, anonymous service to employees.
• Employee Health: Any physical or mental health event can be addressed for employees and physicians
• Lactation room: Located on the sixth and eighth floor of SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.
• SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital's chapel on the second floor of the hospital is open 24/7. 
• Chaplains can be paged and respond to all codes, deaths and rapid response events.
• Student shadowing program, which allows medical and nursing students to shadow chaplains.
• A chaplain is available via the on-call chaplain, 24/7, to staff and physicians (as well as patients/families) to provide listening and ministry.
• A memorial service is conducted annually for families of patients that have died or employees who have died. All families are invited.
• The Caring Physicians Award Ceremony annually recognizes four physicians who provide compassionate care.

SSM Health has partnered with Sharecare to help you live your happiest, healthiest, and most productive life. As part of the myhealthylife program, you have access to wellness resources to help keep your mind and body strong – at no cost to you.

Beginning January 1, 2026, you may complete myhealthylife activities to achieve points and earn up to $500 in myhealthylifestyle account funds. Points you earn in 2026 will be converted to funds you may use in 2027 on the wellness activities that matter most to you!

Learn more and get started today at ssmhealth.sharecare.com.

Unwinding App by Sharecare
Delivered via your smartphone or tablet, Unwinding by Sharecare is a mental well-being program designed to help you better understand how your mind works, reduce stress, and build healthier habits. Whether you have one, five, ten minutes or more, you can access mindfulness practices based on the latest science.

How can the Unwinding App help me?
Mindfulness and the ability to be calmer, less distracted, more aware, and more focused on the things that matter to you, is a skill that can be developed. The Unwinding app help you build mindfulness through short moments of awareness spread throughout your day.  You may choose to engage in awareness practices that include:

• Daily check-ins.
• Breath awareness.
• Mini courses.
• Digital therapeutic programs.
• Calming programs that promote better sleep habits.

By using the Unwinding App, you can teach yourself to stress less and feel better.

How do I access the Unwinding App?
Visit ssmhealth.sharecare.com or download the Sharecare App to register your account. Once registered, you can to activate your Unwinding account by scrolling down and clicking on the “Unwinding tile” then on the “Get Started Now button”. You will then be prompted to download the free “Unwinding by Sharecare App” from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Once you download and open the Unwinding by Sharecare App, be sure to click “Log In with SSO” so you can use the app with no charge. For technical support with the Sharecare and/or Unwinding App, visit support.you.sharecare.com or call 844-212-5650.

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