from touchstone mental health
Kind Words Volume 10
The Neurobiology of Loneliness
Issue 3 winter 2010
Kevin Turnquist MD Touchstone Mental health
“The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.”
Inside this issue Neurobiology of Loneliness
1
Feeling Inspired
2
Donor Thank You
3
Healing Power of Quilting 5 Project Bright Stars
5
Otto Bremer Foundation
6
– Pearl S. Buck How strange that Ms. Buck’s view of loneliness would turn out to be true on a basic neurological level many decades after she wrote these words. For neurobiologists are now learning that loneliness does, indeed, have profound effects on brain structure and functioning. Human beings are troop primates by nature. When we are faced with prolonged loneliness it goes against our primal impulses to be a part of a group. The brain reacts to loneliness as an emergency situation. The hormones of our stress response- the glucocorticoids- are kept at an elevated level. On an unconscious level we essentially prepare our bodies to travel in search of other humans. Those glucocorticoid hormones have widespread effects on our brains and bodies. The stress hormones oppose the actions of insulin. Weight gain, abdominal obesity, and Type II diabetes become more likely. The resultant abdominal fat secretes hormones of its own and those hormones predispose people to anxiety and depression. Researchers have also discovered that lonely people tend to sleep poorly. Adequate sleep is necessary for the healthy functioning of one of the most important brain areas involved in emotional wellbeing- the hippocampus. This crucial structure manufactures new brain cells every day in response to a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor ( BDNF). Our antidepressant treatments work though this pathway. When people are depressed their hippocampi may shrink by almost 20% and recovery involves building new brain cells here. In the schizophrenic illnesses the hippocampi are often small and misshapen from birth. Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder also commonly have mal-structured hippocampi often in response to traumas suffered while their brains were developing.
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We’ve learned that both poor sleep and prolonged exposure to glucocorticoid hormones reduce BDNF levels. Interestingly, lack of physical exercise and living in unstimulating environments have the exact same effect. So if we truly want to optimize the mental health of citizens that have a mental illness we must find ways to provide them with the things that their brains require on a fundamental level. They need mentally stimulating activities, physical exercise, healthy diets, adequate sleep, and freedom from excessive stress hormones. And, most of all, they need to feel that they are connected with other humans. neurobiology continued on page 2
Board Members
neurobiology continued from page 1
Merrie Kaas, Ph.D., Chair Leslie Connelly Katie Lichty, Esq. Michaela Diercks JoAnn Meyer Leigh Erin Irons Liz Sjaastad Donna Langer Darrel Washington
Even a casual observer of our mental health system will immediately recognize that we have a problem here. Many of our clients cannot provide these essential commodities for themselves and we have not, historically, done a good job of helping them in these areas. Many people with a mental illness live extremely isolated lives. They have no sense of belonging to a greater community. And they are cut off from one of the single healthiest factors for their brains; Laughter reduces those toxic stress hormones in ways that none of our medications can replicate.
Management Team Martha Lantz, LICSW , MBA Executive Director
Michelle Wincell, LICSW Director of Operations
Lynette Anderson Finance and Human Resources Director
Jennifer Baumgartner Development Director
Bharati Acharya, LPCC Director of Case Management
Glen Albert, LICSW Director of Assisted Living
DeDe VanSlyke, LPCC Treatment Director, Residential Treatment
Editorial Staff
Like Ms. Buck, Mr. Vonnegut must have had a real intuitive sense for neurobiology. For hat should young people do this is exactly what we must accomplish as a society. There is a widespread tendency to with their lives today? Many believe that the advances in the treatment of things, obviously. But the most daring thing persons with a mental illness will come in the form of new and improved medications yet is to create stable communities in which the the most effective pills for the major mental terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” illnesses have all been around for decades. The – Kurt Vonnegut real breakthroughs in treatment will come, instead, in the form of specially designed living environments that will provide our clients with the things that their brains so vitally need- the very things that they have such a hard time obtaining for themselves. This is precisely what Touchstone is trying to develop with the creation of our proposed model community for persons with a mental illness, the Rising Cedars facility. We hope that it will serve as the beginning of a new era in mental health treatment. And we hope that you will support us in this effort.
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Jennifer Baumgartner Martha Lantz
Programs Assisted Living Apartments
7376 Bass Lake Road New Hope, MN 55428-3861 (763) 536-8134 assistedlivinginfo@touchstonemh.org Care Coordination
2829 University Ave Ste. 400 Minneapolis MN 55414 (612) 874-6409 carecoordinationinfo@touchstonemh.org INTENSIVE REHABILITATION AND Case Management SERVICES
2829 University Avenue SE, Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55414-3230 (612) 874-6409 intensiverehabilitationinfo@touchstonemh.org Intentional Communities
310 East 38th Street, Suite 223 Minneapolis, MN 55409 (612) 767-3881 intentionalinfo@touchstonemh.org Residential Treatment
2516 E. 24th Street Minneapolis, MN 55406-1209 (612) 722-1892 residentialinfo@touchstonemh.org Touchstone Mental Health | PAGE 2
Feeling Inspired Thank you to everyone who helped launch our Rising Cedar Campaign on October 16th at Touchstone’s Notes of Inspiration. The evening helped us meet our mission to inspire hope, healing and well-being and raised funds to expand our health and wellness service offerings. Special thanks to Patrick Hammer of Channel 5 & 45 for your inspiring message, to Levi and all of Touchstone’s community members, clients and residents who participated in Touchstone’s video, to Marc Cohn for your musical notes of inspiration, as well as The Medica Foundation and Bremer Bank for your sponsorship and Seven Restaurant and The Pantages Theater for hosting our event.
Thank you Everyone –
You inspire!
A
n 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.
Pinnacle Keystone Pillar Core
Foothold
Cornerstone
THANK YOU donors Your 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 – October 31, 2010
Pinnacle
Katie and Marshall Lichty John McDonough Joann and Carl Meyer Barbara and Gary Milton Karen Palm and Lynne Sparks Clare Poulose Keystone Shelly and Steve Rucks $1000 – $4,999 Diane and Bob Slayton Donors providing our Cohesive Stability Amy Spartz Lynette Anderson Colleen Watson and Mary McDougall Christine Arenz Core Ross Carter $250 – $499 Tim and Holly Cashin Donors providing our Merrie Kaas Fundamental Heart Collin Kaas Bharati Acharya Donna Langer-Hansen Louise Anderson Martha Lantz and Kim Makie Eric and Jennifer Baumgartner Debra Lindell Kari Baune Joan C. Niedfeldt Jonathan Burris Martha Shipp David Carlson Liz and John Sjastaad Marianne Carolan Pillar Terrence Crowley $500 – $999 Patti Cullen Donors providing our Principle Support Casey and Mishele Cunningham (Anonymous) Sarah and Fredrick Deschamps Glen and Sandy Albert Nancy Devitt Teri Berg-Nelson Michaela Diercks Noah Bly Nichole Fairbanks Deborah Bohn Denise D. Farr Dianne Brennen Sharon Hundley Jane Garvin and James Jacobson Michael Gardos Reid Barbara and Tom Kirby Thomas and Linda Goss $5000 + Donors providing our Culminated Success Leslie and Michael Connelly
Lynn and Jean Hyland Emily Lagace and John Faughnan Marlee Jansen Mary B Jones Glade and Lois Lantz Chris and Molly Lee Dana Lindsay and Tim Pabst Tom Martineau Kathleen Moore Julia and Brian Palmer Katherine Pollock Tonya Rowe Carol Rynders Sandra Shadley Leslie Sobiech Lawrence Stirtz Kathleen Stockhaus-Lee Jim and Sarah Stowell Ken and Mary Sutherland Kevin Turnquist Char Voight Carol Watzke Chris Wilson and Mille Acamovic Michelle Wincell James Woodburn
Cornerstone
$100 – $249 Donors providing our Firm Base Roxanne Abbas Dorthea and Gordon Anderson Sue Anderson Ruth Baeumler
Cynthia Baier and Scott Swenson Scott and Sara Barron-Leer Jodi and Andrew Benson Joan Blace Sara and Walter Broughton Jean Bundt Susan Campion Linda Chlan and James Grindle Katie and Mark Cooney Sara Ann and Daniel Currell Steven and Peggy DeLapp Gregg and Diane Dertinger Grethe and Thomas Dillon Signe and Maurice Dysken Sara And James Evans Jeff Gorman Starla Hendricks John Hill John Hobday Nancy Houlton Kathleen Hustad Leigh Erin Irons and Ryan Brauer Leah and Mark Jensen Ronald and Cynthia Jogodka Sharon T Johnson Mary M. Krakow Karen and William Lee Renee Levesque Scott and Linda Lichty Cindy and Paul Lorah Susan Mallison Gwen and Michael Martin
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Kathleen Confer and Charles Campbell Lydia Conn Lisa Curtin Amy Dickson Nancy and Robert Dillon Joanne Disch Mary Ann and Lee Fabel Lisa Fay and Gregory Cardinal Judith and Richard Fehn Wasil Fiedorow Mathew Flannery Sherri and Wayne Fuller Fay Gallus Lyn Gerdis Scott and Candace Gislason Ann and Brian Gleeson Kate Goodrich Cheryl Grady Cynthia Gross Molly Grove and Jeff Bailey Deb Gruel Alicia Grund Dan and Mary Jo Haag Michael Haddad Linda Halcon Keith Hansen Sue Hanson Christine Harnack Kathryn Hartley Mary and Terry Hearst Andrea Hendel Debra Holmgren Cindy and Bruce Idelkope Penelope Jones Kim Klose and Sara Ford MJ Kolodjski Katherine Kovar Bob Kumagai Jan Lanssen Ann Lee and Robert Barbeau Robert Legler Bonnie Lingbeck and Charles Lingbeck Gloria Livingston Cynthia Long and Allan Williams Foothold Peg Lonnquist Up to $99 Debra Lundell Donors providing our Chief Foundation Jeffry and Rebecca Maciej Anonymous (11) Heidi Malat Sue Abderholden Katey and Mark McCabe Marshall and Drucilla Anderson James McLean Steven and Mary Austin Margot McManus Laura Bale Louise and John McNamara Cindy and Elliot Berlovitz Jacqueline and Salem Mize Robert Birk Melanie Mogg Birgit Birkeland Jason and Tami Muhlstein Ingrid Bloom Beth and Joseph Naughton Ann and Stephan Burgeson Pamela Neuenfeldt Roxanne Burke Georgia and Donald Nygaard Kelli Carlson-Jagersma Maureen and Dale Walde Kathleen Caron Leslie and Kevin O’Laughlin Gwen Carlson Jacqueline Oelfke Lupe Castillo Thomas and Marilyn Page Connie Masterson Juliana and Dwight Maxa Stacy McClendon Mary Ann McLeod Lynda and Peter Michielutti Carolyn Muska Christine Mueller Todd Myers Peggy Matthies Nelsen Susan Matthies Marshall Meier Judith Nassar Diane Ollendick-Wright Julie and Lee Prochnow Helen Raleigh Connie and William Riggs Timothy and Melissa Ridley Mark and Julie Ritter Jennifer Roeser Karin Roof Danielle Salus Judi Sateren Tamra Schmalenberger Heidi Schreiber Karen Shipman John Shrewsbury JB Smiley Gregory Spartz Rebecca Spartz Beth St. John Kathy Swanson David and Carol Thersleff Kirk and Suzanne Thompson Sue Towey Sarag Truesdell Tracy van der Leeuw Marjorie Van Slyke Kara Vangen Jeanne Voigt Holly and Donald Weinhauf Theresa and Douglass Williams Sharon M Wilson Michelle Wincell
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Marian and Curtis Palm Abby and David Pinto Jamie Pfister Mark Price Patrick Quinn Barb Radtke and Julie Ryan Debbie Ringdahl Kent Robbins Kathy Rothstein Janet Schmitt Lea Seaquist Laura Senn Issatta Sheriff Rosemary Shetka Robin Stubblefield Karen Tarrant Peggy Trezona JoAnn Verweij Barbara and Joseph Waselak Holly Weinkauf Bonnie Weisman Rachel Wittrock Maureen Wosepka
In-Kind Support
Aster Cafe Jill G. Dawn W. Betsy Hautley Channel 45 The Carter Center Fashionista Sanderson Creative Adam Bale Productions Kathy and Peter Polga John and Mary Shearen Studio Laguna Photography Scott and Jen McKinnon Henry Emmons Broadway America Seven Restaurant MN Wine Merchants Elite Destination Homes WE Fest Inc. You Moving Forward Hansen Music Barefood Catering Michael A. Schaeffer and Olive Brooks The House Boardshop Hennepin Theater Trust MN Wild Andrew Zimmern Lydia Conn
Foundation & Corporate Support
Bremer Bank Barton School Foundation GiveMN.org Healthcare Interactive The Fredrick and Margaret Weyerhauser Foundation McQuillan Lahti Associates Inc.
Metropolitan Health Plan Minnesota State Fair The Medica Foundation
Donations in Honor
Lynette Anderson In Honor of Helen Raleigh 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 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
Donations in Memory
Donations 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 Charles and Bonnie Lingbeck Gloria Livingston Allan and Cynthia Long James McCLean Salem and Jacqueline Mize 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
Healing Power of Quilting Sometimes to create something beautiful, you must first tear it apart. Quilters not only understand this, but thrive as they cut pieces of fabric then sew them together creating a healing piece of art. According to Dr. Susan Delany, psychiatrist, quilter and author of Rx for Quilters; quilting offers several important health benefits including: • Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
• Improved sleep
• Quickened healing process
• Time and space to think and dream
• Calming rhythms allowing each person to process whatever challenges they face Because quilts are often created with intention as a gift for someone else, they are also about love and relationship. Thanks to the generosity of a Touchstone donor; Cheata, a Touchstone client and Renee, a Touchstone nurse practitioner are working together to piece together a warm, comforting piece of art to last generations. To see photos of Cheata and Renee’s quilt, visit www.touchstonemh.org.
Each day at Touchstone we work with hundreds of men and women living with mental illness. They are our shining stars. We support their efforts so they can continue to shine bright. It can be hard to shine, if you are struggling to stay warm at night or trying to determine when or if you will be able to eat. This is why Touchstone created Project Bright Stars. Project Bright Stars helps make the lives of our clients a little brighter by providing:
As 2010 comes to a close we invite you to join us in filling the winter sky with light. One $25 donation makes a difference in the quality of life for a man or woman in the Twin Cities’ community. It helps keep our stars in the sky and off the streets. With a simple $25 donation you can sponsor one of our 600 stars. To keep a star in the sky, simply visit Touchstone’s Project Bright Stars Page at http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Project-Bright-Stars and sponsor 1, 2 or 4 of our shining stars this holiday season.
Groceries to help maintain consistent and healthy meals
** Shining Stars can be given as a gift in someone’s honor. If you are sponsoring a star in honor of a holiday gift, Touchstone will send you a commemorative card recognizing the gift in their honor. Please e-mail the development department at jbaumgartner@touchstonemh.org with the address and contact name to send the commemorative card.
Coats for cold winter days
Thanks for making lives brighter!
Basic Needs including sheets, towels, blankets and toiletries Energy Bill support during the harshest months
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Mission
Touchstone Mental Health inspires hope, healing and well-being.
Vision
Touchstone 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
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Otto Bremer Foundation Touchstone Mental Health has added reason to be thankful this season. The Otto Bremer Foundation has awarded our Rising Cedar Campaign a $100,000, dollar-for-dollar matching grant to support the program and capital development of our supportive housing and health and wellness center project. For information on how you can help Touchstone meet our matching grant challenge, please contact the development office at 612-767-2161. You can also find details about the first-in-country complex on our web site at www.touchstonemh.org.