Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?

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Jessica Ferguson shares the deeply personal story of her brother's struggle with serious mental illness and how systemic failures led to his incarceration after being accused of a triple homicide when he should have been in psychiatric care.

• Her brother had been stable with his mental illness for a decade before showing concerning behavior changes in early 2023
• Despite three psychiatric hospitalizations within months, he was repeatedly discharged after 72-hour holds with no substantial care plan
• Family pleas for help were ignored as healthcare providers cited voluntary treatment requirements and HIPAA restrictions
• Only after being accused of a crime did he receive consistent psychiatric care
• The jail system provides minimal mental health support compared to psychiatric hospitals
• Families need healthcare proxy arrangements and better knowledge of resources before crises occur
• Massachusetts lacks Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) options that could mandate treatment
• Mental health systems must partner with families who know their loved ones best

If you know someone with a story to tell, send them to TonyMantor.com. Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me, the World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

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intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild
Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)

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.

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1. Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to Why Not Me? (00:00:05)

3. Jessica's Story of Her Brother's Crisis (00:01:23)

4. Failed Treatment and Hospitalizations (00:05:01)

5. Triple Homicide Accusation (00:10:12)

6. The Prison System vs. Psychiatric Care (00:15:11)

7. Advice for Families in Crisis (00:20:22)

8. Closing Thoughts (00:26:36)