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Is someone close to you impacted by Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or psychosis?
Arizona Mad Moms
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 Have Been In Your Shoes
Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?
What is Arizona Mad Moms all about?
Sleepless nights.
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Struggling to help a loved one with mental illness.
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Overwhelmed in the middle of a loved ones mental health crisis.
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Maternal instinct driven to be a voice for your adult-child.
Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?
Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?
Why should you join (with) Arizona Mad Moms?
“Howl To Be Heard”
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.
Anosognosia
Anosognosia (ahno-sag-NO-zha) is a condition where your brain can't recognize one or more other health conditions you have. It's extremely common with mental health conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
"Expecting a person with active anosognosia to understand the need for treatment is like expecting a person experiencing blindness to see, or a person experiencing deafness to hear.” - Eric Smith
February 15, 2023
Schizophrenia Caused Eric Smith to Threaten His Mother's Life (people.com)
• WEB MD, “If a loved one has anosognosia, sometimes it's best not to try to convince them that they're ill. Instead, talk about their goals, such as keeping a job or living on their own. This might encourage them to meet with a mental health professional, even if they don't think they need it for their health and well-being.”
In Memory
• 2000 - 2023 Joshua John Fox
• 1984 - 2023 Matthew Patrick Quinn
• Posted with permission by the grieving mother, an Arizona Mad Moms member.
In The News
09 FEB 24 | Arizona Capital Times: Hannah Elsmore
25 JAN 24 | 12News: Joe Dana, I-Team Reporter/Anchor
25 JAN 24 | 12News: Joe Dana, I-Team Reporter/Anchor
In this article…
“I just can’t come to terms with the idea that this is the best we can do for our loved ones and a system that is allocated several billion dollars to serve our most severely mentally ill, like my brother,” Walter said. “Our loved ones deserve so much better.”
Josh Mozell, President of the Association for the Chronically Mentally Ill, said the amendment to require real outcome data from treatment centers would help bridge information gaps that could bring awareness to institutional failures.
Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, who described the state’s mental health treatment system as a “carousel of failure” the week prior, also spoke in support of the legislation.
Miranda’s SB1309, aimed at broadening standards for court-ordered behavioral health evaluations and establishing guidelines for screening or evaluation agencies, also received unanimous committee approval.
25 JAN 24 | 12News: Joe Dana, I-Team Reporter/Anchor
25 JAN 24 | 12News: Joe Dana, I-Team Reporter/Anchor
25 JAN 24 | 12News: Joe Dana, I-Team Reporter/Anchor
Arizona lawmakers propose new bills for psychiatric care of seriously mentally ill
Lawmakers are proposing major reforms to the care of individuals with serious mental illness receiving court-ordered treatment.
15 JAN 24 | Senate Session: Arizona Mad Moms
09 JAN 24 | 12News: Erica Stapleton, I-TEAM Investigative Reporter
09 JAN 24 | 12News: Erica Stapleton, I-TEAM Investigative Reporter
Senator Miranda acknowledged that people with SMIs have a higher risk of dying.
Last year, AHCCCS first published death trends when it comes to people receiving SMI benefits. The report said in 2022, there were more than 1,700 people in that category who died. The majority were natural deaths, but others were listed as homicides, suicides and accidents that some loved ones believe should have been prevented.
On Tuesday afternoon, January 9th 2024, she made a proclamation to reduce SMI deaths in the state. She also vowed to bring the Mad Moms' struggles to light.
"As long as this session lasts, every Monday you’ll hear a story of what they’ve been through," she said to her colleagues in the Senate. "And try to pay attention to each story because you’ll realize the gaps in our system. You’ll hear the struggles that they went through. You’ll hear what part of the system failed them. And that’s where we need to pay attention and get together and fix those areas in our broken system."
She plans to share a story every week this legislative session, calling it Mental Illness Monday.
[Pictured here are some of the Arizona Mad Moms.]
09 JAN 24 | 12News: Erica Stapleton, I-TEAM Investigative Reporter
09 JAN 24 | 12News: Erica Stapleton, I-TEAM Investigative Reporter
09 JAN 24 | 12News: Erica Stapleton, I-TEAM Investigative Reporter
‘Our broken system‘: Arizona lawmaker (Senator Catherine Miranda) vows to share story of mental health failure each week, reduce SMI (Serious Mental Illness) deaths.
https://www.12news.com/article/news/health/our-broken-system-arizona-lawmaker-vows-to-share-story-of-mental-health-failure-each-week-reduce-smi-deaths/75-af019939-991c-46ad-b4c2-f8fd86e6c6a2
State Senator Catherine Miranda made this proclamation after hearing story after story of families losing loved ones through gaps in Arizona’s mental healthcare system.
She’s been working with a new group called Mad Moms, made up of parents and loved ones who face hurdle after hurdle when it comes to helping someone in their own family get help when they’re living with a serious mental illness.
Senate Floor Sessions (More coming soon)
Come and join us . . .
”We are here at each session.” ~ Mad Mom Rachel
Honor Student & Cross Country Runner
The Unimaginable For Over Decade
Aircraft Mechanical School Graduate
Matthew excelled in school and graduated from Aircraft Mechanical School and got a good job with an Aerospace Company in the field that he loved.
At the age of 29 the illness, schizophrenia, set in and voices in his head became louder than anyone else’s.
Not in Arizona . . . You Are Welcome To Join Us! When one state passes important laws, other states follow. Let us know if you’d like to receive our emails.
Welcome To Join
Thank you for your strength and commitment to the dignity and care of SMI families and impacted loved ones.
The information you share here is for Arizona Mad Moms organizing purposes only as we work to change policy and shift social perspectives about SMI discrimination, criminalization and inequity.
Please complete the Arizona Mad Moms Registration if you have not already.
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