June
11, 2014
Dear
Janice Brewer,
Regarding
the Management of Mental Health in Arizona
Let me
introduce myself. I am a counselor in training. I have a year to go
prior to taking my test for license and completing the internship
requirement. My name is (Angelbell) and I also have had several
family members in the mental health system. I face this issue with
compassion as well as seeing a need for a sustainable system that
really works. I am a fiscal conservative with a heart. I am a
professional in the field. Most of all I am a mother with a young
adult son hooked up to life support at the hospital after a recent
suicide attempt. If there was ever motivation for reaching out and
hoping for systemic change... it is now! I will add that against all
odds, It looks hopeful that my son is going to recover. We are taking
it one day at a time. His father and I are seeking an attorney to
possibly help us look into what went terribly wrong.
That is
who I am and I am the author of this letter.
I have
had a long talk with Izra and Ray Thomas. Ray and I talked months ago
as the new RHBA was taking place. The unfortunate thing for us; is
that each new RHBA seems to erase the paperwork of the last RHBA.
Since our son has been in the system since age 17 there should be
reports going back 20 years. Even if those reports were an overview,
hitting the highlights, it would be helpful.
This
would be helpful in illuminating the life time prevalence of his
diagnosis. Recently, my son went before an administrative law judge
concerning his social security benefits. Although there are many
hospitalizations. It seems that the file was devoid of any
significant assessment. During a recent psychotic episode and a
subsequent hospitalization, he was court ordered by one judge into
treatment and simultaneously another judge decided that he was able
to work and mentally stable. That was in April 2014. We have two
opposing decisions from Judges who are not mental health
professionals but, serve the agenda of different bureaucracies. We
are speaking with John McCain's office in an appeal attempt to
restore benefits at a time when Z's treatment and ability to
continue demands this.
That
seems ludicrous to anyone who hears it. It feels like the system
has become dichotomous and bi-polar too. The who mental health system
seems to be uncoordinated. It seems to be running with many players
who are paid well, get good salaries, but it also feels like the
families of the patients are doing all the care. I mean all the case
management, coordination of services, and just day to day care
taking. Unfortunately we don't get a pay check. Others who are
detached, are paid. When I say I am a fiscal conservative, I mean we
have got a big budget bureaucracy that is not even remotely serving
its population or the natural support system of this population, such
as family and friends of the seriously mentally ill.
As I
have spent 20 years doing my own research beyond my Master's Degree
requirements, I look deeply into effective treatment and what works.
I was told I might have to pay big money to acquire guardianship for
my son. I say why don't we leave out the judges and lawyers and
have a team decision. Like the CFT's (Child Family Teams) I used to
facilitate, The judge who spends a few moments reading reports and
then votes yea or nae, does not know the family or situation as fully
as other members of the team. Why are they even necessary? I think
the present system is keeping judges and lawyers off the street and
gainfully employed, but again, it is not the most compassionate and
effective approach. It is not effective as far as best treatment and
practice and it is not saving our tax payer dollars very well. We
are really spinning our wheels, our time and our dime. And sadly our
discarded mental health patients sleep on the streets.
Does
not seem to be working well. The prison system, really benefits. I
think members of our present legislation have bought stock in that?
Rumor has it. Our jails are treating a greater number of the
mentally ill. If only that were truly effective. It is certainly
not. It is unconscionable.
Most of
my frustration is with the crisis treatment centers and the
hospitalizations. I was telling Izra Loring one of my stories and
he was amazed. He thought it worked much differently. But before I
tell that story. The trillion dollar pharmaceutical industry is on
the fast tract to getting most of the allocated funding for the
mentally ill.
I hate
to say it... but those disenfranchised mental health patients are
supporting so many well meaning agencies and industries. But...they
suffer greatly when there are actually better alternatives than
medication many times. Our RHBA's might not be fully exploring those
options. I have found much researched evidence that nutrition and
vitamin/mineral therapies are out performing medications. Many of
the psych medications sedate or try to manage the symptoms. Some are
helpful short term. The long term effects are very damaging to the
brain and nervous system. And those medications are so expensive.
Z's new non title 19 AHCCCS will not even cover the ones that cost
several hundreds of dollars a month.
Well no
wonder we have such a problem...a large part of the money is serving the
psychiatrist or nurse practitioners and the toxic medications that
don't cure but might help to some extent. Z's needs them right now
due to the worsening of his condition. Alternatives don't seem to be
reachable now. I am hopeful that in the future our system will look
at more gentle yet powerful and effective alternatives. And the best
part is...they are much less expensive.
Again
the mental health budget is serving some people, unfortunately not
those suffering with mental illness.
My son's case manager, sat with me for hours waiting for Z's turn in the
court room. She said sometimes it takes all day...and this is
required for court ordered treatment. He felt his medication was
not working for him very well and he stopped them suddenly. That is
not the way to come off medication. A slow titration is needed. I suppose that forcing him to
take medication is important right now as long as we have the right
ones. And they are helping him. The case manager could not bring
her lap top or cell phone into the court room waiting area. I
watched as a bus pulled up transporting my son in restraints into the
waiting room for patients. This court room necessity is costing a
bundle of money and works well for the judges. It is enormously
inconvenient for all others in the picture. The case manger sometimes
spends all day there several times a week as she works with 40 cases.
I asked about a teleprompter, type of court system set up in the out
patient clinics and in patient hospitals? That might shave off
thousands of dollars and free up the case mangers to really work with
the needs of clients.
My son complains that hospital stays are like prison. Very boring and non
therapeutic. They were not able to even go outside to hear the birds
chirp and sing, or see trees and blue sky. That would make me more
depressed than ever and if someone is already depressed it is not healthy. It is very confining for patients. They
are not always treated very well by staff. It is very de-humanizing.
And yet, my son needed to be there. My son and I have talked about what
a safe environment, that is kinder, would look like and how that
could be achieved. If a poll were taken during the discharge...or
afterword's I wonder if more opinions could be gathered.
I wont
even start talking about the UPC as I could write a book. There are no beds at UPC and people sit in chairs for days waiting for placement.
If
there is a steering committee regarding how to help the mental health
system work in a better coordinated ...that
time is now.
And I
would love to be there in any capacity to weigh in on needed change.
A concerned mom.
PS some personal info redacted for this post
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