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Through the small therapeutic group called, “Good Medicine” patients have the opportunity to practice and learn new skills while out in community through volunteer work and experiences in nature.  

Patients like Clint Allen say the group is not only a way to contribute to the community, but also to help debunk myths people may hold about the people who receive care at OSH.  

“It’s nice to be of service and give back to the community,” Allen said. “Mostly, I enjoy the opportunity to show people in the community that people at the state hospital are normal people – that there are people here who are as well-functioning as someone you’d see on the street.” 

Hospital Native Services and Spiritual Care team members coordinate the Good Medicine group, named for the Native term that emphasizes healing and finding ways to heal.  

The Good Medicine group’s focus on community is intentional, said Mike Patton, an OSH Native Services team member.  

“It’s important for them to make connections with people outside of the hospital and to give back to the community,” Patton said. “Particularly in Native culture, community is important. Being able to participate where we’re giving of ourselves and make contributions to our community – that’s important.”  

The 80-acre, nonprofit botanical garden is maintained by a small team and every volunteer and every hour they contribute makes a huge impact, said Roseanne Yoder, who is one of seven horticulturists on a team that includes a horticultural manager and assistant manager.  

During the OSH group’s recent volunteer visit, Yoder shared with patients the goals for the afternoon – cover the vegetable beds in the Market garden’s demonstration area with cardboard and compost to get them ready for planting. The vegetable demonstration garden is designed to educate visitors about seasonal planting, irrigation methods and general garden maintenance.  

Education is also an underlying goal of every volunteer’s experience at the Oregon Garden, Yoder said.  

“They’re able to come and learn about what they can grow in their own spaces. Learning how to grow your own food is a skill. With all of our volunteers, we’re also building community,” Yoder said.  

Each year about 170 people volunteer at the garden and of that number, about 40 are regular volunteers, said Tabitha Thompson, Oregon Garden Foundation volunteer and membership coordinator.   

“We rely on our volunteers, and we’re able to provide unique volunteer opportunities,” Thompson said. 

Thompson shared she also recognizes the positive impacts of exposure to horticultural therapy.  

“There have been several studies on the impact of getting outside and getting your hands in the dirt being beneficial to your mental health and that’s for anyone,” Thompson said. “For the patients who volunteer with us, we hope that they find some peace while they’re out here. We also support what Mike is trying to do in destigmatizing mental health and who is a patient at the hospital.” 

Patton agreed that he also hopes the group’s interactions in the community help raise awareness about mental health.  

“People still have an unfavorable impression of people who live with mental health challenges and as we’re out in community – in a subtle way – we hope that we can help change that perception as they see our patients contributing in a positive way in the community,” Patton said.