Arizona Horizon Archives - Eight, Arizona PBS

Agreement in Lawsuit Over Services for the Seriously Mentally Ill | Video
- Governor Jan Brewer and plaintiffs in the 1981 Arnold v. Sarn lawsuit have signed a 2-year agreement that creates a framework for improving services for people who have serious mental illnesses. Dr. Laura Nelson, Director of the Division of Behavioral Health for the Arizona Department of Health Services, and plaintiffs’ attorney Anne Ronan discuss details of the agreement.
Arnold v. Sarn Lawsuit History | Video
- Mental Health Attorney Charles “Chick” Arnold explains how his name became associated with the class action lawsuit Arnold v. Sarn. Filed in 1981, the lawsuit seeks to force the State of Arizona to provide the community-based system of care for individuals with serious mental illnesses that is promised in state statute.

Restoring Competency to Stand Trial | Video
- Accused of the mass shooting in Tucson, Jared Loughner was found mentally incompetent to stand trial. He is now undergoing treatment in an attempt to restore competency. Phoenix-based forensic psychologist Michael B. Bayless discusses what it means, and what it takes, to restore mental competency.

Mental Health Funding | Video
- State funding for the seriously mentally ill has been cut in Arizona. Richard Clarke, CEO of Magellan Health Services of Arizona, and Dr. Laura Nelson, interim deputy director of the Arizona Department of Health Services/Division of Behavioral Services, will discuss how people with serious mental illnesses will get the help they need after the reduction in funding.