Greetings

Welcome to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s website. The department has a great deal of information to share in the areas of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse through our three program divisions. The quality services we offer are second to none and our goal is to serve as many Missourians as possible with the financial resources at our disposal.

Our vision for the Missouri Department of Mental Health is that “Missourians shall be free to live their lives and pursue their dreams beyond the limitations of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and alcohol and other drug abuse.”

As a matter of history, the Department of Mental Health was first established in 1974 but its functions date back to 1847. You can find out more about the beginnings of mental health treatment in Missouri in the section titled About DMH. Even more of our early history can be found in the web sites of several of our facilities. Some of our facilities were established during the 19th century and many of those sites have additional historical information.

Currently the department has approximately 9,600 employees serving in a variety of capacities, from administration to clinical services. Our employees are dedicated to those we serve, providing day-to-day direct care, coordinating programs, and developing policies to better serve Missourians. Our Office of Human Resources can direct you to employment opportunities and other information about benefits and openings and the rules of the state merit system.

I hope you find your journey through our web site both informative and ease to navigate. If you require more information than you find here, please contact us, as we stand ready to serve all Missourians.

Again, welcome to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Internet site.

Keith Schafer , Ed.D.
Director