Arizona Mad Moms

Welcome to Arizona Mad Moms' Website

INTEREST FORM

Volunteer Welcome Team Members Wanted & Needed.

In response to recent news coverage, we have been flooded with inquiries. It may take us some time to reach out to everyone that contacts us.

So many families are affected by SMI (Serious Mental Illness) and the completely inadequate system of care for treating the sickest among us.
Please read our FAQ page below, it might help you to be prepared.

Again, we are sorry you are here.

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

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.

YouTube

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

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

We are sorry you are here.

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 the police, be sure to let dispatch know you are dealing with a psychiatric situation and ask for crisis-trained officers.

Welcome to Arizona Mad Moms' Website

Yes, we have been in your shoes.

A New Arizona Law, After Family Tragedy

SB 1309 - John's Law

What is Schizophrenia?

IN MEMORIAM

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU

Frequently Asked Questions

In The News

12News

Joe Dana, Reporter/Anchor

Pending

Pending

Arizona Capital Times

Senator Catherine Miranda, reported by Hannah Elsmore

Pending

Pending

azcentral.com

Stephanie Innes, azcentral Health Reporter

Pending

Pending

YouTube

Bethany Yeiser, Survivor

How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

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

Joshua John Fox: October 26, 2000 - December 23, 2023

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

We are sorry you are here.

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 the police, be sure to let dispatch know you are dealing with a psychiatric situation and ask for crisis-trained officers.

Welcome to Arizona Mad Moms' Website

Yes, we have been in your shoes.

A New Arizona Law, After Family Tragedy

SB 1309 - John's Law

What is Schizophrenia?

IN MEMORIAM

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU

Frequently Asked Questions

In The News

12News

Joe Dana, Reporter/Anchor

Pending

Pending

Arizona Capital Times

Senator Catherine Miranda, reported by Hannah Elsmore

Pending

Pending

azcentral.com

Stephanie Innes, azcentral Health Reporter

Pending

Pending

YouTube

Bethany Yeiser, Survivor

How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

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

Connect With Us

Joshua John Fox: October 26, 2000 - December 23, 2023

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

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