Posts by Debby Anderson
Rachel’s 42 minute Podcast on Anosognosia
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. The May-June…
Read MoreAmanda’s Story🖤[1980-2024]
(August 1, 1980 – March 28, 2024) Amanda died before we could get this published for Mental Illness Monday, but we will make sure her story is told and that her life will continue to benefit others. Amanda was a thirty-five-year-old woman who was diagnosed as bi-polar and seriously mentally ill (SMI) in her twenties.…
Read MoreMark’s Story
(LD10, Sen. Farnsworth, Rep. Parker, Rep. Heap) Mark was adopted through foreign adoption at 3 years old. He was an energetic and fun-loving child that excelled at karate and swimming. He won awards for his artistic drawings. He loved Sunday school at his church, and he played the snare drum in middle school. At age…
Read MoreAlyssa’s Story
LD 4 (Sen. Marsh, Rep. Gress, Rep. Terech) Growing up, Alyssa played competitive soccer and was passionate about social issues. She graduated with honors from ASU. She volunteered to work on Jake’s Law requiring insurance companies to cover mental health treatment. Her proudest moment was being with Governor Ducey when it was signed into law.…
Read MoreGriffin’s Story
LD 22 (Sen. Diaz, Rep. Contreras) Griffin was a sweet, but wild child. At around age 4 he started having mood swings that flipped like a light switch. He was diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar, then disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. He was screened for autism twice; once at age 5 and again at age 8…
Read MoreTaylor’s Story
LD 12 (Sen. Epstein, Rep. Contreras, Rep. Travers) Taylor was a beautiful and happy child. An honor student in high school and an athlete, he ran cross country and half marathons and loved basketball. He was a loving mentor to his younger brother. Taylor earned a full academic scholarship to college and dreamed of becoming…
Read More25 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.
Read MoreJohn Kevin Fox and son Joshua John Fox
(Father and Son, Maricopa County) John Fox and his son Joshua Fox are the inspiration for the Arizona Mad Moms movement. Joshua was a millennial baby, born in the year 2000 to John and Crystal Fox in Phoenix, Arizona. John was an amazing artist with a passion for helping teenagers. His son Joshua was a…
Read MoreMatthew Patrick Quinn🖤[1984 – 2023]
July 26, 1984 – July 7, 2023 Tucson District 17 (Sen. Wadsack, Rep. Jones, Rep. McGarr) Imagine your life is pretty normal. You work at a grocery store to pay for college. You graduate from aircraft mechanic school, get a good job that you love, and are enjoying the life of a typical 29-year-old man.…
Read MoreJoshua John Fox 🖤 [2000 – 2023]
October 26, 2000 – December 23, 2023 Joshua was a kind-hearted child who loved writing, art, rap music, and wolves. Joshua developed signs of schizophrenia at age 15, but the symptoms were intermingled with substance use, so Joshua didn’t get appropriate psychiatric treatment. At age 18, John and Crystal Fox tried to petition their son for…
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