Help Kruz Family in Mental Health Crisis

The mental health system is not set up to support people and families struggling with severe mental illness. 

I am creating this fund as a collective effort to generate stable and long-term medical care and living conditions for my brother Justin Kruz. I have been his primary advocate and have seen first hand the neglect and brokenness of the mental health system. 

I love my brother. He was my first best friend. And our lack of mental healthcare continues to rob him and my family of our dignity and humanity. Please join me in changing it all. Fight with me to create a new system of care for all of us.


Justin has struggled with severe mental illness for most of his life. He has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This results in an inability to make friends and connections with others leading to severe depression, anxiety, aggression, agitation -- and as of late--  extreme paranoia and delusions.

Over the years, our family has been supporting Justin quietly without any external support. We have tried everything in our power to provide him with what he needs but options are limited financially. Justin has been hospitalized over 6 times in his lifetime for his mental health. In that time, he has never been left with a care plan or team that is supportive enough to lead him to a place of improvement.

Justin's extreme paranoia has escalated. He is refusing to go to his apartment and carry a cell phone. He has been roaming the streets with a suitcase full of all his belongings alone for weeks on end. His belongings were recently stolen and his feet are covered in blisters. 

He is currently hospitalized in Chicago in an inpatient psych unit for the 2nd time in just over 1 week. 

Justin knew he needed help and went to the hospital. He was admitted into the inpatient psych unit at Methodist Chicago Hospital on 11/19/19. Just 2 days later, I arrived at the hospital. I was told he was being discharged that day.
I informed the inpatient psychiatric supervisor and his social worker that it was not safe for him to leave. I explained that we needed to create his discharge plan together since he would not go and stay home. They planned to take him to a shelter and refused my instructions.

Justin was not stable at discharge and I chased him around the city to get him back into the hospital. In less than 24 hours, he was hit by a car going 40 mph while running across the street at 3am. The driver did not call an ambulance and left Justin on the side of the road.

A witness called 911 and he was rushed to Illinois Masonic Hospital. He is currently healing from a broken fibula and trauma to his head. A few days later, the hospital agreed that he needed intensive psychiatric care and he has been moved to the inpatient unit.

It is urgent upon discharge that we provide Justin with a long term treatment plan that fits his many care needs.  Many long term treatment centers require arrival directly from inpatient psych units and discharge from psych units averages at 5-7 days from admission.

WE MUST PLAN AND ACT FAST. 

Legally, our options are limited with how we support him as he is his own guardian. Guardianship requires an attorney and basic therapy and psychiatric appointments have waitlists months long. Our family can't afford an attorney, private treatment programs and therapy that we feel will work for him.

Justin needs clothes and shoes, basic hygiene products, residential rehabilitation services, intensive therapy, medication monitoring in a safe and supportive setting, organized activities and relations building exercises, job training, education, transportation support to medical appointments, physical therapy after the accident, transitional living and wraparound services. Our family needs legal advice on guardianship of Justin. 

Our mom is recovering from a long term ICU and hospital stay with acute kidney and multiple organ failure. Our dad works 7 days a week to support Justin while taking care of my mom. I have been flying back and forth between Chicago and Los Angeles and also financially support Justin's needs.

I am alone in Chicago navigating the hospital, psychiatrist, social workers, attorneys, the police regarding the accident and supporting Justin while he is struggling in the hospital.

I'm raising money for a 30-60 day program for Justin. My hope is that we are able to surpass this baseline amount so I can find a more permanent place Justin can live following. 
We need your help. Thank you.



Your donation will directly help Justin purchase clothes and shoes, basic hygiene products, allow us more options for residential rehabilitation services, intensive therapy, medication monitoring in a safe and supportive setting, organized activities and relations building exercises, job training, education, transportation support to medical appointments and beyond, physical therapy after the accident, transitional living and wraparound services.

Our family also needs legal advice on guardianship of Justin and around the accident that took place injuring him. 

To DONATE, please click the yellow 'Donate' button at the top of this page. Every amount helps!

Thank you for your generosity in helping Justin Kruz with his mental health crisis. 


Please SHARE this page by clicking the 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' buttons at the top of the page, under Justin's photo.

Copy this URL and paste it into your Instagram bio or send an e-mail directly to some friends! The more people that know, the more help we can be for Justin together!

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And please take a moment to write an encouraging word for Justin in the ‘Comments section! We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your support!