A heartbreaking testimony at the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee meeting highlighted the urgent need for reform in the state’s mental health system. Rachel Scribe, co-founder of the Arizona Mad Moms, spoke on behalf of Helen Bootsma, whose son Larry tragically lost his life earlier this month after struggling with severe mental health issues. Larry was found dead at a Phoenix bus stop just hours after visiting his clinic, despite being legally mandated to receive treatment.

Scribe's emotional address painted a grim picture of Arizona's mental health care system, accusing it of waste, fraud, and neglect. She emphasized that Larry, who suffered from schizophrenia and a traumatic brain injury, was left untreated and homeless, even while his clinic continued to receive funding. "Larry needed secure residential treatment, which this legislature has refused to fully fund," Scribe stated, criticizing the drastic cuts to mental health appropriations.

The testimony underscored the systemic failures that have left thousands of individuals with serious mental illnesses waiting for care. Scribe pointed out that Arizona has seen a significant reduction in state hospital bed capacity and that individuals with serious mental illnesses are 32 times more likely to be jailed than hospitalized. She called out the legislature for not voting on critical bills aimed at improving oversight and care for these vulnerable populations, attributing the crisis to political inaction.

In a poignant moment, Scribe urged the committee to prioritize the lives of those suffering from mental illness, stating, "Our kids are dying in the streets. We need to stop this bickering and act like a family because that's what moms do." The meeting also included a letter from the San Carlos Apache tribe, highlighting similar issues of fraud and neglect in treatment facilities affecting their community.

As the committee convened, the weight of these testimonies served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reform in Arizona's mental health system to prevent further tragedies.