Is someone close to you impacted with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or psychosis?

Psychiatric condition? We are sorry you are here.

Are you interested in more information?

(Click "In The News & More")

Are you interested in joining us?

(Click "Interest Form")

In The News & More

Interest Form

Welcome to the Arizona Mad Moms' Website

MISSION STATEMENT

"Yes, we have been in your shoes."

(We still are.)

Together we ADVOCATE.

MISSION STATEMENT

What is Arizona Mad Moms all about?

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

What is Arizona Mad Moms all about?

The Arizona Mad Moms is a

grassroots movement of mothers,

caregivers, and family members of

loved ones with degenerative

brain illness causing psychosis.

We Do Know

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Feeling completely unprepared & startled.
Struggling to (know-how-to) help a loved one in a mental health crisis.
Frustrated because you are-not being heard.
Overwhelmed daily and sleepless nights.
Maternal instinct driven to be a voice for your adult-child.

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Through advocacy, legislation, and personal support, Arizona Mad Moms will be a voice to remove barriers to competent psychiatric treatment and services for our loved ones with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), their families, and the community.

Schizophrenia

WHY IS SCHIZOPHRENIA, A KNOWN BRAIN DISEASE, HARD TO ACCEPT?

Among individuals with schizophrenia, an estimated 50% to 80% have a partial or even total lack of insight into the presence of their mental disorder. This condition, known as Anosognosia, has also been observed in people with other diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder, major depression with psychotic features, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders.

Click on "Rachel's 42 minute Podcast on Anosognosia" to learn more.

Rachel’s 42 minute Podcast on Anosognosia

IN THE NEWS & MORE

In this inaugural episode, we thoroughly examine the effects of bed shortages...

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

Nearly 311,000 people with serious mental illness are living in Arizona, according to federal data.

CRONKITENEWS

Pathways to Equity podcast: Episode 1

... for the seriously mentally ill on the families and community. Listen to our conversation with (President of 'ACMI' Association for the Chronically Mentally Ill) Josh Mozell, one of a few lawyers in the country with a mental health-care practice, and (Arizona Mad Mom) Tyra Street, whose son has schizophrenia.

October 30, 2024

Nearly 311,000 people with serious mental illness are living in Arizona, according to federal data.

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

Nearly 311,000 people with serious mental illness are living in Arizona, according to federal data.

Arizona's Family

Alexis Dominguez, Anchor - Reporter

Valley moms (AZ Mad Moms - including families) are sounding the alarm on bed shortages and shorter stays for severe mental health patients at psychiatric inpatient care facilities.

October 15, 2024

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

CronkiteNews AZPBS

Shi Bradley, News Digital Reporter-Phoenix

Bed shortages and inadequate care leave patients with Serious Mental Illness in metro Phoenix at risk.

Multiple hospitals in the state are currently at capacity and have turned away patients in recent months, and those who do get beds are often discharged prematurely.

October 9, 2024

Department of Justice says Phoenix discriminates against mental illness.

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

KJZZ 91.5 Phoenix

Matthew Casey, Senior Field Correspondent

“What is so sad is that the report found that Phoenix's officers act on the assumption that people with disabilities are dangerous."
Attorney Larry Wulkan

September 17, 2024

ARIZONA We Need This!

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

By Najahe Sherman

MIAMI - A first-of-its-kind mental health facility is now a big step closer to opening in Miami-Dade County. The facility aims to help people with severe mental illness, who are caught in the criminal justice system.

September 17, 2024

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

... which found Missouri is mistreating thousands of mentally ill citizens. The report lays out the year-and-a-half investigation ...

Rachel Streiff co-founded an Arizona-based organization called ‘Arizona Mad Moms',

which now has a chapter in Missouri.

July 10, 2024

Mad Moms got the attention of lawmakers this past session thru weekly Mental Illness Monday stories.

azcentral.com

Stephanie Innes, Health Reporter

4 new mental health laws are "cause for hope", AZ (Mad Moms) group says.

July 7, 2024

Crystal Fox (Co-founder of AZ Mad Moms) shared her son’s story.

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

House Bill: HB2744 To help seriously mentally ill people who can't help themselves.

AWARENOW

'Beyond Stigma' Exclusive Column by

National Shattering Silence Coalition

This story is about Crystal's son Joshua, and his father John, the inspiration for “John’s Law” recently passed in Arizona Legislation 2024.

July 20, 2024

House Bill: HB2744 To help seriously mentally ill people who can't help themselves.

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

House Bill: HB2744 To help seriously mentally ill people who can't help themselves.

12News

Erica Stapleton, I-Team Reporter

Victory for Mad Moms: Gov. Hobbs signs mental health bill into law. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Consuelo Hernandez.

April 12, 2024

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

Sen Catherine Miranda takes a few minutes on the Senate floor to present “Mental Health Mondays.”

Arizona's Family

Alexis Dominguez, Anchor - Reporter

Teen substance abuse and mental health program launching in Sun City West

March 28, 2024

Sen Catherine Miranda takes a few minutes on the Senate floor to present “Mental Health Mondays.”

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

Sen Catherine Miranda takes a few minutes on the Senate floor to present “Mental Health Mondays.”

Arizona Capital Times

Hannah Elsmore, Senate Reporter

Mondays mean Senate hears true stories of mental health crisis.

February 9, 2024

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

12News

Joe Dana, Anchor

Arizona lawmakers propose new bills for psychiatric care of seriously mentally ill.

January 25, 2024

"We could not get him help." Crystal Fox, mother demanding change in Arizona.

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

12News

Erica Stapleton, I-Team Reporter

'We could not get him help'. Mother demands change in Arizona's mental health care system after son dies by suicide in prison.

Arizona Mad Mom's co-founder Crystal Fox - this article is about her son, Joshua John Fox.

January 4, 2024

Bethany Yeiser, Survivor

"My journey through schizophrenia and homelessness."

0:08:23

05/18/2019

On 07/15/24 Mad Moms Zoom - Guest Speaker

~ Thank You Bethany!

CureSZ.org

Andy Arnowitz, Information & Resources Coordinator Copa Health

Advocacy Guidelines for Working With a SMI Clinic 2nd Edition

"How to Achieve the Desired Result"

07/08/2022

On 07/08/24 Mad Moms Zoom - Guest Speaker

~ Thank You Andy!

Slides of the PDF is above in the Section

"Monday Night Mad Moms Zoom Meeting"

OR Click Printable Document

Printable Document

How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

Ambiguous loss is a loss that occurs without a significant likelihood of reaching emotional closure or a clear understanding. This kind of loss leaves a person searching for answers, and thus complicates and delays the process of grieving, and often results in unresolved grief.

0:31:12

01/17/24 Jerri Clark, TAC's Mission and Me

Treatment Advocacy Center .org

Advocating for the Best Available SMI Care: guest, Rachel Streiff (episode 37)

0:55:05

Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches

02/21/2022

A "4 Moms in the Trenches" episode Rachel Streiff: Mental Health Advocate, Mentor to SMI Caregivers, Data analyst for Team Daniel Running for Recovery from mental illness, (Dr. Robert Laitman’s organization), chemical and biomedical engineer with a legacy six sigma black belt certification - Mother of our guest in episode 22, who is currently a full-time college student. If you enjoyed her son's story in Episode 22, hear his Mom's side of the advocacy and how she insisted on the best available care - a standard some practitioners do not follow.

A very powerful hour.

PODCAST YouTube | SZ: Three Moms in the Trenches

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out to us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is this organization's main objective?

Hello, my name is Crystal Fox, the late Joshua Fox's mom, and one of the co-founders of the grassroots organization, Arizona Mad Moms. The objective is;

To help, to fill gaps in the community-based SMI system, and to educate the public on the need for life saving treatment; including involuntary treatment in hospitals over incarceration.

Provide access to all levels of community treatment which includes inpatient involuntary hospital beds so that dangerous people are not released to the streets, education, and training.

We also provide direct support to families living with serious mental illness.

How is schizophrenia diagnosed?

Diagnosis of schizophrenia involves ruling out other mental health disorders and determining that symptoms are not due to substance abuse, medication, or a medical condition.

What is BHRF?

A Behavioral Health Residential Facility (BHRF) is a non-hospital housing in a residential neighborhood.

BHRF’s do not have nurses or doctors.
BHRF’s do have Behavioral Health Technicians, who are generally high school graduates and not licensed by the state of Arizona.
(Most) BHRF’s are not secured so patients can walk away, even if they are in active psychosis and refusing medication.

What is BHRFCO?

Behavioral Health Resident Facility including Co-occurring conditions, such as drug and/or alcohol addictions.

Co-occurring conditions are very common in people with SMI diseases, such as bipolar or schizophrenia. This is known as self-medication.

My friend who has a serious mental illness is difficult to be around, will they ever hit 'rock bottom'?

It is a myth that individuals with Serious Mental Illness will hit rock bottom and then ask for help.

With serious brain disorders like schizoaffective disorder, the only rock bottom is death.
It is medically established that the region of the brain that recognizes its own illness has become damaged, similar to Alzheimer’s patients.

In this state when a child is going to turn 18, the child needs to be evaluated by a provider to get the SMI diagnosis at 18.

1. An application can begin at 17.5 years old, while your child is still a minor.

Because, at age 18; as a parent, you have no legal say, unless you are the legal guardian of course.
The SMI system is an Arizona entitlement program; therefor expect to be denied,
unless there is a long history. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts.

2. Pre-plan to hand over to the provider (the doctor or nurse practitioner)

a written history,
any school records that apply to behavior and medical records, as much information as you can get to them, which can include journals and witness's written accounts.
Keep your original copies! And have it available to add an on-going history.

3. You need to be proactive! Providers will not ask you to be.

Why doesn't Arizona recognize serious mental illness (SMI) in children or what they call it, "Emotional Disturbance"?

SMI is for adults, 18 and over. Whereas typically it is DDD (or department of developmental disability) that is for younger kids.

Sometimes *emotionally disabled children do **qualify as SMI; especially if there is a long history. [Parents or caregivers, keep an on-going history.]
All must have functional impairment which means inability to care for themselves.

*Emotional disability can qualify especially borderline personality, self-harm, etc. It just needs that
functional impairment.

**Qualifying diagnosis or typically: Bipolar 1 Disorder, Schizophrenia, or severe depression.

What does HB 2744 do in regard to helping parents with children with SMI?

HB 2744 helps parents or guardians to;

1. Learn if the individual is released from a screening facility.

[Known history.] Often the individual goes into a hospital or facility for mental illness, the guardian drops them off to the facility, but the facility lets them out to the streets without notifying anyone of the discharge.

2. Also, if a person has a guardian, is living at home with the parent (or friend) and is under court ordered treatment, now the family can petition the courts to continue that level of care.

[Known history.] Often the clinics are unwilling to update that court ordered treatment which provides needed oversight for the individual and safety for the family.

Are you trying to help children/adolescents or just adults?

We are trying to help anyone with serious mental illness. Most serious mental
illness begins in adolescents but on rare occasions it is seen in children.

Do you have a map of each state’s SMI Resources?

No. However, TAC does, and here’s the link:

Treatment Advocacy Center

“. . . the map to find state-specific resources for severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.“ - TAC

INVITATION from The Angry Moms

We are mothers, parents, family members and caregivers who have come together to advocate for the safe use of Clozapine for our loved ones with a psychiatric condition.

"Clozapine is certainly not the only medicine available to physicians and patients in the US with agranulocytosis as a potential adverse effect. But how many of these other medicines require a REMS program for prescribing and dispensing? None."

Click here to visit our website, The Angry Moms.

Founded by

Rachel Streiff, co-founder of Arizona Mad Moms

The information on this website is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained on or available through this website, is for general information purposes only.

This website makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information on or available through this website,

and such information is subject to change without notice.

You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this website

with other sources and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.

Psychiatric condition? We are sorry you are here.

Welcome to the Arizona Mad Moms' Website

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

What is Arizona Mad Moms all about?

What is Arizona Mad Moms all about?

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

What is Arizona Mad Moms all about?

We Do Know

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?

Inspiration for the Arizona Mad Moms

How mad moms came together

Schizophrenia

WHY IS SCHIZOPHRENIA, A KNOWN BRAIN DISEASE, HARD TO ACCEPT?

WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA?

If you have an immediate psychiatric problem in your home or family, please call 988 to be connected to local crisis services. If you must call for your local police, be sure to let dispatch know you are dealing with a psychiatric situation and ask for crisis-trained officers.

IN MEMORIAM

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU

Save The Date

It’s a wrap!

Highlights at the Arizona State Capitol

Mad Moms in Washington DC 2024

SMI Advocacy Guidelines

IN THE NEWS & MORE

In this inaugural episode, we thoroughly examine the effects of bed shortages...

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

Nearly 311,000 people with serious mental illness are living in Arizona, according to federal data.

Nearly 311,000 people with serious mental illness are living in Arizona, according to federal data.

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

Nearly 311,000 people with serious mental illness are living in Arizona, according to federal data.

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

Department of Justice says Phoenix discriminates against mental illness.

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

“You restore someone’s liberty by restoring their cognitive function." said Jane Jepson, AZMM member

ARIZONA We Need This!

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report...

Mad Moms got the attention of lawmakers this past session thru weekly Mental Illness Monday stories.

Mad Moms got the attention of lawmakers this past session thru weekly Mental Illness Monday stories.

Mad Moms got the attention of lawmakers this past session thru weekly Mental Illness Monday stories.

Crystal Fox (Co-founder of AZ Mad Moms) shared her son’s story.

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

House Bill: HB2744 To help seriously mentally ill people who can't help themselves.

House Bill: HB2744 To help seriously mentally ill people who can't help themselves.

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

House Bill: HB2744 To help seriously mentally ill people who can't help themselves.

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

“The onset often occurs in the late teens and early 20s but there are early warning signs."

Sen Catherine Miranda takes a few minutes on the Senate floor to present “Mental Health Mondays.”

Sen Catherine Miranda takes a few minutes on the Senate floor to present “Mental Health Mondays.”

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

Sen Catherine Miranda takes a few minutes on the Senate floor to present “Mental Health Mondays.”

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

"We could not get him help." Crystal Fox, mother demanding change in Arizona.

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

12News has reported extensively on the gaps in care for individuals with serious mental illness. . .

Bethany Yeiser, Survivor

Andy Arnowitz, Information & Resources Coordinator Copa Health

How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

Sponsored by TEAM DANIEL Running for Recovery from Mental Illness, a 501c3 charity.

Advocating for the Best Available SMI Care: guest, Rachel Streiff (episode 37)

Mad Moms have Questions about St. Luke Hospital

4 new mental health laws are cause for hope, AZ group says

Frequently Asked Questions

INVITATION from The Angry Moms