When Systems Fail: Maria shares a Sister's Fight for Her Brother with Severe Mental Illness

Maria shares her journey advocating for mental healthcare, from working in a medical facility helping patients navigate services to struggling with the complex systems while trying to help her brother with severe mental illness. Her powerful story reveals critical gaps in our mental health and legal systems that prevent timely intervention for those most in need. • Experience as a healthcare advocate navigating insurance barriers and provider shortages • Personal history with anxiety and OCD providing firsthand understanding of mental health challenges • Brother's delusional disorder progression from normal complaints to severe paranoia • Attempts to get help through police and crisis responders repeatedly blocked by bureaucratic barriers • Brother's eventual criminal behavior, jail time, and homelessness due to untreated mental illness • Finding support through MOMI (Mothers of the Mentally Ill) while continuing to search for solutions • Importance of maintaining hope and humanizing those with severe mental illness • Awareness as the first step toward creating positive change in mental health systems If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at whynotmeworld. Spread the word about Why Not Me, our conversations, our inspiring guests that show you are not alone in this world. The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates. Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed. Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care. Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.