from touchstone mental health

Kind Words

2829 un iver s i ty avenue s esu i t e 400

m inneapol i s mn 5 5 4 1 4 - 3 2 3 0

Bringing Horticulture into tHerapyEvery activity we participate in has an impact on how we think and how we feel and some activities can have a profound influence on our physical and mental health. Research in Therapeutic Horticulture has indicated that our environment also plays a critical role. Throughout ancient history, there is evidence of the therapeutic benefits of nature and a human need for a relationship with nature to maintain a healthy balance. Long ago human beings relied on their observations of nature to trigger instinctual responses needed for survival and to adapt to adverse conditions. Recent studies have indicated that simply viewing nature reactivates those innate responses, stimulates the immune system and can reduce anxiety and pain.

Therapeutic Horticulture is the purposeful delivery of plant and plant related activities to bring about measurable health and well-being for individuals and/or groups.

Horticulture therapists modify the environment as well as the garden activities to capitalize on an individual’s strengths, maximize experiences of success, reduce stress and improve competency.

Plants have a way of fascinating us and can draw our attention into the reality of here & now with very little effort. Working with plants triggers something deep inside that promotes our natural self-healing capability. This can in turn prompt physical activity, social interaction, clarity of focus and relieve us from stress inducing thought. Cultivating plants can also teach us how to take better care of ourselves. When faced with illness, fear & depression can immobilize us into withdrawal from life. Feeling diminished may create the feeling that we have lost the ability to offer something meaningful to the world. Caring for plants provides physical confirmation of our ability to care for life & can remind us of our own self-care needs. It provides an outlet for pent-up emotions & an opportunity for reflection. Plants teach us that every living being goes through periods of new beginnings, growth, emptiness, death & rebirth. They inspire identification with the spirit of life that resides in all living things.

For more information, you may contact:

Cindy Berlovitz CTRS, Mental Health Services, Abbott Northwestern Hospital at cynthia.berlovitz@allina.com

or

Jean Larson Ph. D., HTR, CTRS, Center for Therapeutic Horticulture, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum at larso095@umn.edu.

Inside this issue

Horticulture 1

From the Heart 2

Hope Blooms Again 2

Donor Thank You 3

My Story 5

Double Your Impact 6

VoLuME 11

ISSuE 1

SPRINg 2011

a treat for your heartThe Assisted Living Community wished to share a heart healthy “Sweet Treat Soup” with newsletter readers this quarter. A 2 cup serving of soup helps fulfill the 4 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables the American Heart Association recommends for a heart healthy diet. The vegetables’ colors (green, yellow, white and orange) are also rich in heart healthy vitamins.

In an effort to be good to our hearts, the following recipe was prepared and served to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but this heart healthy treat could easily be enjoyed all year round with friends!

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil • 1 cup of fresh or frozen sweet corn• 1 cup of baby carrots • 1 cup of fresh or frozen sweet peas• 1 cup of hearts of celery • 2 cloves of garlic minced• 1 cup of fresh or frozen pearl onions • 10 cups of vegetable or chicken stock• 1 cup of sweet potatoes • 2 tablespoon dried Italian spice blend

Cut up vegetables (excluding garlic) in one inch chunks. In a large stew pot or Dutch oven heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add carrots, celery and pearl onions. Stir and cover. Heat until vegetables are tender but not mushy, approximately 7 minutes. Add garlic and 2 tablespoon of Italian spices and stir for 30 seconds. Add the sweet potatoes and stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft, approximately 25 minutes. Add sweet corn and peas and cook for 2 minutes, longer if using fresh. Remove from heat and serve with a piece of warm whole wheat bread.

For more information on heart healthy eating including recipes and shopping tips check out the American Heart Association’s web site at www.heart.org.

hope Blooms again may 5, 2011Help Touchstone Mental Health cultivate hope, healing and well-being at our second annual Hope Blooms breakfast event. The free breakfast is a fun and inspiring morning filled with health and wellness insights and information about Touchstone’s integrated approach to care.

The event helps Touchstone raise $85,000 for our Health and Wellness services, education outreach and training so men and women can maximize their health, well-being and independence.

Please contact Jen Baumgartner at (612) 767-2161 or jbaumgartner@touchstonemh.org if you would like to join us on May 5th, if you would like to host a table of friends or have a business interested in sponsoring.

TouCHSTone MenTAL HeALTH | PAGe 2

Board membersLeslie Connelly, Chaireric Cannon Katie Lichty, esq.Leigh erin Irons JoAnn MeyerMerrie Kaas, Ph.D. Liz SjaastadDonna Langer-Hansen Darrell Washington

management teamMartha Lantz, LICSW , MBAExecutive Director

Michelle Wincell, LICSWDirector of Operations

Lynette AndersonFinance and Human Resources Director

Jennifer BaumgartnerDevelopment Director

Bharati Acharya, LPCCDirector of Case Management

Glen Albert, LICSWDirector of Assisted Living

DeDe VanSlyke, LPCCTreatment Director, Residential Treatment

editorial staffJennifer BaumgartnerMartha Lantz

programsassisted living apartments

7376 Bass Lake Roadnew Hope, Mn 55428-3861(763) 536-8134assistedlivinginfo@touchstonemh.org

Care Coordination

2829 university Ave Se Ste. 400Minneapolis Mn 55414(612) 874-6409carecoordinationinfo@touchstonemh.org

intensive rehaBilitation and Case management serviCes

2829 university Avenue Se, Suite 400Minneapolis, Mn 55414(612) 874-6409intensiverehabilitationinfo@touchstonemh.org

intentional Communities

310 east 38th Street, Suite 223Minneapolis, Mn 55409(612) 767-3881intentionalinfo@touchstonemh.org

residential treatment

2516 e. 24th StreetMinneapolis, Mn 55406-1209(612) 722-1892residentialinfo@touchstonemh.org

“where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

– Lady Bird Johnson

pinnacle$5000 +Donors providing our Culminated successLeslie and Michael Connelly

Keystone$1000 – $4,999Donors providing our Cohesive stabilityLynette AndersonChristine ArenzRoss CarterTim and Holly CashinMerrie KaasCollin KaasDonna Langer-HansenMartha LantzKim MakieKatie and Marshall LichtyDebra LindellJoan C. niedfeldtMartha ShippLiz and John Sjastaad

pillar$500 – $999Donors providing our principle supportAnonymous (2)Glen and Sandy AlbertSharon AndersonTeri Berg-nelsonnoah BlyDeborah BohnDianne BrennenRoss CarterBob and Marley DusekJane Garvin and James JacobsonBarbara and Tom KirbyJohn McDonoughJoann and Carl MeyerBarbara and Gary MiltonKaren Palm and Lynne SparksClare PouloseShelly and Steve RucksDick and Rita SandersonDiane and Bob SlaytonAmy SpartzKen and Mary SutherlandLawrence StirtzLeslie SobiechColleen Watson and Mary McDougall

Core$250 – $499Donors providing our fundamental heartBharati AcharyaLouise Andersoneric and Jennifer BaumgartnerKari BauneJonathan BurrisDavid CarlsonMarianne CarolanTerrence CrowleyPatti CullenCasey and Mishele CunninghamSarah and Fredrick Deschampsnancy DevittMichaela Diercksnichole FairbanksDenise D. FarrSharon HundleyMichael Gardos ReidPaul GoeringLynn and Jean Hylandemily Lagace and John FaughnanMarlee JansenThomas Jogodka and Linda GossMary B JonesGlade and Lois LantzChris and Molly LeeDana Lindsay and Tim PabstTom MartineauKathleen MooreDavid and Judy MyersMark olesenJulia and Brian PalmerKatherine PollockHelen RaleighTonya RoweCarol RyndersSandra ShadleyLeslie SobiechKathleen Stockhaus-LeeJim and Sarah StowellKevin TurnquistMarjorie Van SlykeChar VoightCarol WatzkeChris Wilson and Millie AcamovicMichelle WincellJames Woodburn

Cornerstone$100 – $249Donors providing our firm BaseRoxanne AbbasDorthea and Gordon AndersonSue AndersonRuth BaeumlerCynthia Baier and Scott SwensonScott and Sara Barron-LeerDavid BauneJodi and Andrew BensonHarlow BergJoan BlaceSara and Walter BroughtonJean BundtSusan CampionLinda Chlan and James GrindleKatie and Mark CooneySara Ann and Daniel CurrellSteven and Peggy DeLappGregg and Diane Dertingernancy DevittGrethe and Thomas DillonSigne and Maurice DyskenSara and James evansWasil FiedorowBrian GeurtsJeff GormanStarla HendricksJohn HillJohn Hobdaynancy HoultonKathleen HustadLeigh erin Irons and Ryan BrauerLeah and Mark JensenRonald and Cynthia JogodkaLorrie JohnsonSharon T JohnsonMary M. KrakowKaren and William LeeRenee LevesqueScott and Linda LichtyDana Lindsay and Tim PabstCindy and Paul LorahSusan MallisonGwen and Michael MartinConnie MastersonJuliana and Dwight MaxaStacy McClendon

Mary Ann McLeodLynda and Peter MichieluttiCarolyn MuskaChristine MuellerTodd MyersPeggy Matthies nelsenMarshall Meiernasreen MohamedJudith nassarGeorgia and Donald nygaardDiane ollendick-Wrightelisa PluharJulie and Lee ProchnowHelen RaleighSrividya Raman and Ganapathy

VenkataramanConnie and Bill RiggsTimothy and Melissa RidleyMark and Julie RitterJennifer RoeserKarin RoofDebra RothDanielle SalusMark and Mary SandersonJudi SaterenTamra SchmalenbergerHeidi SchreiberKaren ShipmanJohn ShrewsburyBJ SmileyGregory and Constance SpartzRebecca SpartzBeth St. JohnJim and Sarah StowellRobin StubblefieldKathy SwansonRenee and Timothy SvobodaDavid and Carol ThersleffKirk and Suzanne ThompsonJoel TillmanSue ToweySarah TruesdellTracy van der LeeuwKara VangenJeanne VoigtHolly and Donald WeinhaufTheresa and Douglass WilliamsSharon M Wilson

An Inukshuk is built in layers (foothold, cornerstone, core, pillar, keystone, and pinnacle) with each layer serving an integral role in stabilizing the beautiful guiding structure. Just

as an Inukshuk needs every layer to be complete, Touchstone Mental Health needs support at every financial level. Thank you for making it possible for Touchstone to serve as an Inukshuk, or stable guide, in the lives of those we serve. Without you, we are incomplete.

thanK you donorsYour support helps Touchstone serve as a guide and supporting presence for our clients as they travel their paths of hope, healing and well-being.

January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010

PAGe 3 | TouCHSTone MenTAL HeALTH

Michelle WincellGary and Cary Zahrbock

footholdup to $99Donors providing our Chief foundationAnonymous (11)Sue AbderholdenMarshall and Drucilla AndersonSteven and Mary AustinLaura BaleCindy and elliot BerlovitzRobert BirkBirgit BirkelandIngrid BloomAnn and Stephan BurgesonRoxanne BurkeKelli Carlson-JagersmaKathleen CaronGwen CarlsonLupe CastilloKathleen Confer and Charles CampbellLydia ConnLisa CurtinMike and Amy Dicksonnancy and Robert DillonJoanne Dischemil engelicaMary Ann and Lee FabelLisa Fay and Gregory CardinalJudith and Richard FehnMathew FlannerySherri and Wayne FullerFay GallusCharles GaretzLyn GerdisScott and Candace GislasonAnn and Brian GleesonKate GoodrichCheryl GradyCynthia GrossMolly Grove and Jeff BaileyDeb GruelAlicia GrundDan and Mary Jo HaagMichael HaddadLinda HalconKeith HansenSue HansonChristine HarnackKathryn HartleyMary and Terry HearstAndrea HendelRichard and Stacy HendersonDebra HolmgrenCindy and Bruce IdelkopePenelope JonesKim Klose and Sara FordMJ KolodjskiKatherine KovarBob KumagaiJan Lassen

Ann Lee and Robert BarbeauRobert LeglerRenee LevesqueBonnie Lingbeck and Charles LingbeckGloria LivingstonCynthia Long and Allan WilliamsPeg LonnquistDebra LundellJeffery and Rebecca MaciejHeidi MalatSusan MatthiesKatey and Mark McCabeJames McLeanMargot McManusLouise and John McnamaraMarshall MeierJacqueline and Salem MizeMelanie MoggChristine MuellerJason and Tami MuhlsteinMegan MulkeyBeth and Joseph naughtonPamela neuenfeldtGeorgia and Donald nygaardMaureen o’Connell and Dale WaldeLeslie and Kevin o’LaughlinDiane ollendick-WrightJacqueline oelfkeThomas and Marilyn PageMarian and Curtis PalmAbby and David PintoJamie PfisterMark PricePatrick QuinnBarb Radtke and Julie RyanRoshini RajkumarRosemary RauschDebbie RingdahlKent RobbinsKathy RothsteinSarafin SamsonJanet SchmittLea SeaquistLaura SennIssatta SheriffRosemary ShetkaGretchen SnopeLynne SparksCraig StirtzJohn StrengerRobin StubblefieldColleen TalbertKaren TarrantPeggy TrezonaJoAnn VerweijBarbara and Joseph WaselakHolly WeinkaufBonnie WeismanDouglas and Theresa WilliamsSharon M. WilsonRachel WittrockMaureen Wosepka

in-Kind supportAster CafeJill G.Dawn W.Betsy HautleyChannel 45The Carter CenterFashionistaSanderson CreativeSeven RestaurantAdam Bale ProductionsKathy and Peter PolgaJohn and Mary ShearenStudio Laguna PhotographyScott and Jen McKinnonHenry emmonsBroadway AmericaSeven RestaurantMn Wine Merchantselite Destination HomesWe Fest Inc.You Moving ForwardMn Landscape ArboretumHansen MusicBarefood CateringMichael A. Schaeffer and olive BrooksThe House BoardshopHennepin Theater TrustMn WildAndrew ZimmernLydia Conn

foundation & Corporate supportBremer BankBarton School FoundationGiveMn.orgHealthcare InteractiveThe Fredrick and Margaret Weyerhauser

FoundationJelinek Metz McDonald LTDMcQuillan Lahti Associates Inc.Metropolitan Health PlanMinnesota State FairThe Medica Foundationorganization Silver Cycling uSCF 9595uS Bankcorp Foundation

donations in honorAnonymous

In honor of wonderful and courageous daughter

Lynette Anderson In Honor of Helen Raleigh

Sharon Anderson In Honor of Daniel Anderson

Sara Barron-Leer In Honor of Richard A Barron

Lupe Castillo In Honor of Communities of Color

Linda and James Chlan In Honor of Dr. Merrie Kaas

Karen S Fink In Honor of Lee

Jeff Gorman In Honor of Liz Sjaastad

Linda Halcon In Honor of Ingrid Sittler

Sue Hanson In Honor of Will Geertz-Larson

Christine Harnack In Honor of Jeff Haas and Colleen Haas

Deborah Holmgren In Honor of John Trautman

Megan Mulkey In Honor of her sons

Amy Spartz In Honor of David Jacobs

Rebecca Spartz In Honor of Amy Spartz and David Jacobs

Mary and Ken Sutherland In Honor of Kathy Ann Cashin

Sue Towey In Honor of Jim Pappas

Colleen Watson and Mary McDougall In Honor of Joseph Watson-Tracy

Touchstone Residential Treatment Staff In Honor of our residents

donations in memoryDonations in Memory of Justin Jogodka

Steven and Mary Austin Roxanne Burke Lee and MaryAnn Fabel Fay Gallus Dan and MaryJo Haag Tom and Linda Jogodka Ronald and Cynthia Jogodka Penelope Jones Jan Lassen Charles and Bonnie Lingbeck Gloria Livingston Allan and Cynthia Long James McCLean Salem and Jacqueline Mize Rosemary Shetka Barbara and Joseph Waselak Barton School Foundation

Donation in Memory of Cynthia Riggs Michael Gardos Reid Connie and Bill Riggs

Leah and Mark Jensen In Memory of Alvina Striedel

Colleen Watson and Mary McDougall In Memory of Dr. Richard McDougall

Carolyn Muska In Memory of Donald Muska

Clare Poulose In Memory of Mark Dodge

Dick and Rita Sanderson In Memory of Scott Sanderson

Theresa and Douglass Williams In Memory of nick Christensen

TouCHSTone MenTAL HeALTH | PAGe 4 PAGe 5 | TouCHSTone MenTAL HeALTH

Finally, at age 57, Christine Leonhardt is on the road to recovery. After struggling for years to manage her bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, Christine has found the support and resources she needs to be successful. With the help of her case manager, residential treatment programs and supportive housing, Christine has taken control of her illness and her life.

While Christine has battled mental health issues virtually her whole life, the first signal that something was truly wrong came in 1986, at the age of 33. Following the death of her son who was just 18 months old, Christine’s life entered a tailspin. Christine was hospitalized amidst a severe bout of depression coupled with anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia. Tragically, at the time Christine did not receive a formal diagnosis or even help understanding how to handle what she was experiencing. After her release from the hospital there was no follow-up. Christine feels that the problems she faced later on could have been prevented if she had access to the services and supports she needed back then.

Despite all this, Christine bounced back, and for a time life was good. She found work as a hospital administrative assistant and an information technology support person. An avid fisher, she would spend her weekends out on the lake with her boyfriend, who was a “bass pro.”

In 2006, Christine’s life began to unravel again. As her illnesses progressed, Christine began experiencing more and more manic episodes and found it increasing difficult to “keep herself together.” Her relationships with family and friends became strained, and she lost interest in her favorite activities.

Whereas before Christine had been impeccably organized, managing surgery schedules and other administrative duties at her office, she found herself constantly frazzled and struggled to keep things straight. Conflicts with coworkers became a regular occurrence, and she changed jobs several times. eventually, the only work she could handle were temporary positions where she could avoid the office politics. After losing her sixth job and being evicted from her apartment, Christine “crashed and burned.”

Around this time, Christine admitted herself to Hennepin County Medical Center. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and received medication. Soon after her visit to the hospital she was admitted to the nancy Paige Residence. From there, Christine transitioned to the Anchor House intensive residential treatment services (IRTS) program. These programs helped Christine learn to manage her illness and begin to turn things around.

Christine was connected with a case manager through Hennepin County who helped her navigate the system. Soon after, she enrolled in a supportive housing program at Touchstone Mental Health. In this program, Christine is able to live in her own apartment, while still having ready access to the services and supports she needs.

Sadly, Christine’s experience has left lasting scars. Because of her untreated illness she lost her job, her apartment and numerous friends. She has been “completely rejected” by her family, including her three sons, all of whom live with mental illnesses as well. She says living with bipolar is like “constantly riding a merry-go-round,” ceaselessly bouncing between emotional highs and lows.

Despite her struggles, Christine remains optimistic. now that she is in a better place, Christine likes to give back; spending her free time helping other people in her mental health support group learn to use computers. She is working to rebuild bridges with past employers and hopes to resume her work in the medical field soon. Still, Christine worries about the lingering stigma surrounding her illnesses, especially explaining her mental health issues to potential employers.

Christine is adamant that, to be successful, people living with serious mental illnesses need support and guidance. She is “ever so grateful” for all the professionals, particularly those at Hennepin County, who have provided her with the “best possible care.” Christine would not be where she is today without the tireless efforts of her case manager and the staff at the residential treatment and supportive housing facilities who helped her understand and manage her illnesses.

my storyBy Christine Leonhardt

We would like to congratulate Christine whose story was recently highlighted by nAMI Minnesota. Christine is a member of our Intentional Community, and Touchstone’s Speakers Bureau. She has taken an active role in advocating for men and women living with mental illness within the Twin Cities. This story was originally printed by nAMI Minnesota newsletter.

because of touchstone, christine is able to live in her own apartment

while having access to the services and supports she needs.

2829 un iver s i ty avenue s esu i t e 400

m inneapol i s mn 5 5 4 1 4 - 3 2 3 0

MissionTouchstone Mental Health inspires hope, healing and well-being.

VisionTouchstone Mental Health is a center of excellence, providing quality programs, services and products to assure that people living with mental illness can enjoy the highest quality of life and achieve their greatest personal potential. Touchstone builds on its history of innovation to deepen, grow and sustain its programs to meet existing and emerging needs.

TouCHSToNE MENTAL HEALTH | PAgE 6

tWo Ways to douBle your impact tHis spring!

Join us at Hope Blooms on may 5th from 7:30 - 9 a.m. at The Depot. Every gift of $500 or above will be matched, up to $10,000. For more information contact Jen Baumgartner at (612) 767-2161.

Help Touchstone achieve our $100,000 otto Bremer foundation matching grant. Every dollar donated to touchstone’s rising cedar campaign by November 2011 will be matched by the Bremer Foundation up to $100,000. Funds will be used to deliver health and wellness programs and services for more than 5000 Twin Cities’ men and women living with mental illness.

For more information contact Jen Baumgartner at (612) 767-2161 or jbaumgartner@touchstonemh.org or visit www.touchstonemh.org.