When Brenda’s daughter, Emma*, began exhibiting dangerous behaviors unlike anything she’d seen before, Brenda was overwhelmed. Prior to this behavioral health crisis, Emma had been self-sufficient. She was pursuing a solid career path and living independently.

Emma’s behavioral health crisis began shortly after seeking treatment for a separate medical issue. Her healthcare provider prescribed a growing roster of medications, none of which addressed the root cause. Emma grew tired of taking so many medications and feeling unwell from side-effects. Unbeknownst to loved ones, she weaned herself off everything, including prescriptions for depression.

She soon developed serious symptoms— mania, hallucinations, paranoia, mood swings. She experienced unwanted and intrusive thoughts and expressed false beliefs of superiority. She went for long periods without sleep, would forget to eat and lost weight at an alarming rate.

“I had no idea what to do,” Brenda recalls. “I had never experienced anything like this before.”

Brenda called the mobile inRESPONSE: Mental Health Support Team. Recognizing Emma posed a danger to herself, this team helped Brenda admit her to the hospital. Brenda was also connected to Nicole Natividad, a System Navigator for Buckelew’s Family Service Coordination (FSC) program. Nicole worked closely with Brenda, providing her with the support and resources she needed to help Emma.

“Nicole is like an angel,” says Brenda.

In the hospital, Emma was safe. But despite the efforts of Brenda and other caregivers, Emma refused treatment. Within a few weeks, Emma was released from the hospital. Without treatment, her health deteriorated rapidly.

“That’s when she began completely losing touch with reality,” observed Brenda.

Emma isolated herself, exhibiting paranoid behaviors. She locked herself in her house, destroyed everything and threw away her belongings. Soon, she lost everything: her job, her friends, her home and money.

At one point, Emma went missing. She discarded her phone and was completely out of contact with her family. Eventually Brenda learned Emma had tried leaving the country and had gotten into trouble — something she’d never done before. She gave away thousands of dollars to strangers. Brenda and her husband found Emma and brought her home, realizing how far her health had deteriorated.

Despite their best efforts, Emma took off again. Before her parents or inRESPONSE could reach Emma, she was arrested for property destruction. Ultimately, Emma was served with a jail sentence. Nicole provided guidance to help Brenda effectively advocate for her daughter as Emma moved through the penal system. Nicole also connected Brenda to a support group for family members with loved ones in jail. This, too, was unknown territory for Brenda.

Though Emma refused any care or treatment, Brenda persisted. She continued advocating on her daughter’s behalf. Having spent two months in jail, Emma finally agreed to treatment and was released. Nicole was there to support Brenda through the next steps.

“I always felt like my two feet were two feet above the ground, and I was all whacked out,” says Brenda. “I was very scared.”

When a loved one exhibits erratic behaviors that are symptomatic of a serious mental illness, it creates chaos and profoundly impacts their entire social system. FSC is there for families and allies, offering education, guidance, and vital connections to life-saving services. In addition to connecting Emma with services, Nicole also helped Brenda find treatment for her younger daughter who was experiencing depression as a result of these chaotic events.

Brenda is glad that the worst year of her life is over and feels better knowing Emma is safe, no longer in jail and receiving services. She is grateful for the inRESPONSE team and the support and resources she received from Nicole and FSC.

“The work Buckelew does is amazing and I cannot thank them enough,” says Brenda. “I am grateful for the help.”