The Nourish and Flourish conversation guides promote physical health through nutrition and physical activity while fostering connections to mental well-being. We invite staff, mental health professionals, and facilitators who work in community-based mental health support programs to use the guides to initiate conversations using non-judgmental, trauma-informed messages, and motivational interviewing strategies.
Each guide is designed to flow from discussing a health topic to setting goals for behavior change. Individuals ideally set their own goals based on personal needs. The guides offer recommendations.
The "How to Use this Guide" page has more detailed information with a brief training video.
"This is my breakfast veggie bowl! Eating breakfast in the morning is really helpful for me. Eating good, healthy foods feels good." — Community Support Program Photovoice Participant
The Nourish and Flourish Conversation Guides incorporate the voices of individuals experiencing mental health challenges. To create the conversation guides, community mental health support program members participated in a PhotoVoice project. Members were asked to take pictures of what helped their health and what created challenges for their health. Common themes were identified from their photos and accompanying stories to create the guides. You’ll find participant voices throughout the guides.
Several principles guided our work together including Equity, Holistic Health, Community-Centered, Relationship-Driven, Participatory Processes, and Engagement. The Nourish and Flourish Conversation Guides connect mental flourishing with other aspects of health and healthy lifestyles.
Visit the PhotoVoice Gallery website for more information and to view the CSP member's photos and read their stories.
Thank you for your interest in the Nourish and Flourish Conversation Guides. Please take a few minutes to respond to this optional survey. Your responses will help to improve and guide our future work on this project. Nourish and Flourish survey.
Abby Gold, Health and Nutrition Extension Specialist
Kelly Kunkel, Extension Educator
Kate Welshons, Extension Educator
Mary Schroeder, Extension Educator
Kanko Akakpovi, Health and Wellness Regional Coordinator
Rachel Jones, Health and Wellness Coordinator
Contact: Abby Gold agold@umn.edu or Kelly Kunkel kunke003@umn.edu