husband to a beautiful wife, father to 4 wonderful sons, grandfather to 4, work from 5 AM to 5 PM, advocate for the seriously mentally ill the rest of the time.
Mesa, AZ
Joined February 2019
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Matthew Geesling retweeted
My final interview with Dr. Carol Olson, which in my opinion shows how dire the situation is for the severely mentally ill. Not to be dramatic, but sitting in many stakeholder meetings learning these things, my hair would literally stand on end. We can’t be neutral on this; we have to act.
open.substack.com/pub/debora…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Families need to know that someone they love will be treated with dignity, protected from abuse, and given the care they need. Those are reasonable things to ask.
I appreciated Dr. Carol Olson’s conviction that we can build a humane system with real accountability. There is so much work ahead, but hearing her speak about what is possible encouraged me.
Later today, in Episode 4, I ask her where she would begin. I hope you’ll join us.
If you haven't listend to episodes 1-3 of my conversation with Dr. Olson, Chair at Valleywise Health, catch up here: youtu.be/wipQH-PYvek
Matthew Geesling retweeted
This weekend, my husband and I were graciously invited to the Courage Awards event hosted by @InstituteCicero in Austin, where they honor lawmakers making a difference. Impressed by Cicero’s work, I met @dkurtzz, who is passionate about helping the seriously mentally ill. What impresses me most, aside from his intellect, is his willingness to listen and learn, something rare these days. I took few pictures but will remember the many conversations with caring people.
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Follow “Johnny’s Story” to understand why a place like Kenny’s Home is so needed. p82homes.org/johnnys-story
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Merica 🇺🇸
instagram.com/reel/DaRcCSBjm…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Launching One Life, Two Homes: a powerful new series.
Johnny isn’t one person. He’s the real stories of families we’ve walked with for years.
See life in the wrong kind of home… and the right one: Kenny’s Home. ❤️
Link in bio to stay updated!
— P82 Homes
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Weekend reading: When Community Integration Becomes Abandonment. The DOJ’s Olmstead memo finally confronts the misuse of disability law that pushed severely mentally ill adults into homelessness and crisis.
open.substack.com/pub/debora…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Follow our story here: p82homes.org/johnnys-story
Matthew Geesling retweeted
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? -Mark 8:36
This is the company that runs my son’s community living home. I have no words for people who profit off of vulnerable mentally ill people.
dailymail.com/news/article-1…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
So let me get this straight, the plan to help the mentally ill is to incentivize de-prescribing but fast track use of psychedelics? While laying the fall out on the backs of the faith community? What am I missing? @SecKennedy
Matthew Geesling retweeted
I saw a solid biblical counseling group post this on social media to confirm that there are no biomarkers for psychiatric disorders. I agree the DSM is flawed, but please consider that we do not have biomarkers for many ailments such as migraines and autoimmune disorders. Mad in America is a notoriously anti-psychiatry site & implicitly bias against treatment for the severely mentally ill. Please consider. Families living with serious mental illness are isolated from the church and experiencing real suffering.
open.substack.com/pub/madina…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Jaffe’s Ted Talk on serious mental illness advocacy👌 youtu.be/1Eh_Keo5Xjw?si=RUI0…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Loved the President’s speech, but Decarlos Brown Jr. wasn’t an illegal immigrant. He was one of our own and here’s how we failed him and his victim.
A THREAD 🧵 HOW DID WE GET HERE?
The day Decarlos Brown Jr. crossed paths with Iryna Zarutska on a NC light rail train ended in tragedy. Minutes later she was dead.
This was not an isolated event. It was the outcome of decades of broken policy on serious mental illness.
The IMD Exclusion is one of the quietest rules in Medicaid law yet it has fueled homelessness, incarceration & tragedy for decades. This thread traces how we got here & why it must end.
Matthew Geesling retweeted
You can see who has the larger lobby. Definitely not the severely mentally ill. I still remember the rage last year over the fatal stabbing on a light rail in NC by a mentally ill man. This response is not adequate. It’s a start, but we still don’t get it. How much has already been spent on SU “prevention?” We need to prioritize the SMI! @JTLonsdale @dkurtzz
“Kennedy also highlighted new federal funding flowing through SAMHSA as part of its first 2026 block grant allocation, totaling $794 million. Of that amount, $319 million will support comprehensive community mental health services for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance, while $475 million will fund substance use prevention, treatment and recovery programs nationwide, according to the department.”
foxnews.com/politics/rfk-jr-…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
“I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?”
open.substack.com/pub/rabbit…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
1. Valleywise is a contractor. If they cannot meet obligations of contract, then the state should do its due diligence to hold them accountable or find another contractor.
2. See number 1. No one holds them accountable. They make very good money especially on eval centers. Tax payers should expect better, not have to bail them out for a billion dollars.
3. Patient care and treatment of family is declining. The ones who get help have to “know someone” in the mental health inner advocacy circle.
4. AHCCCS refuses to implement patient care surveys. Families of SMI have no voice.
5. Valleywise does not implement laws we have passed or train them on things like Family bill of rights. They are self protective, hide behind HIPPA and lawyers. Nothing changes, they get richer and hold the monopoly on services for Maricopa County.
Matthew Geesling retweeted
A THREAD 🧵 HOW DID WE GET HERE?
The day Decarlos Brown Jr. crossed paths with Iryna Zarutska on a NC light rail train ended in tragedy. Minutes later she was dead.
This was not an isolated event. It was the outcome of decades of broken policy on serious mental illness.
The IMD Exclusion is one of the quietest rules in Medicaid law yet it has fueled homelessness, incarceration & tragedy for decades. This thread traces how we got here & why it must end.
Matthew Geesling retweeted
I continue to read through the Executive Order on homelessness and I continue to be astonisheded at its reasonableness.
whitehouse.gov/presidential-…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
One of my earlier podcasts on involuntary treatment for the seriously mentally ill. It’s not what you think. deborahgeesling.substack.com…
Matthew Geesling retweeted
Learn more about the IMD Exclusion & how it hurts the sickest mentally ill. Also see link in comments to informative webinar hosted by @taccommunicate open.substack.com/pub/debora…