By Kylie: 2022-2023 I was in Brattleboro Retreat and was put in an isolation unit in Tyler, there for swearing. It was labeled as abusive and violent language, and I was threatened that if I left, I would be physically restrained onto a metal chair with leather straps and I would be chemically sedated. The [...]

By Anonymous: 2016-2017 Whilst at Desert Hills, I was sexually assaulted by other kids. I attempted to take my life so many times I can’t count just while I stayed there. Many times I’d attempt I was almost successful I’d find a way to stuff the key hole and wrap a phone cord around my [...]

By Kariana: 2007-2011 I was sent to the Lighthouse as a child under the belief that it was a place of safety, structure, and Christian guidance. I was told it would help me, protect me, and lead me closer to God. What I experienced instead was an environment of control, fear, and abuse that caused [...]

By Katie: 1999 One night in early 1999, I was feeling like I was having another sinus infection. I had already slept a bit that day and it was early at night for me, but I did remember having a headache and mentioning it to my mom. I remember my mother giving me a red [...]

By August: 2018-2021 I went to Maple Lake Academy when I was 14 in 2009. At this time, I had been diagnosed with NLD and Bipolar disorder. They had me on very high doses of Lithium and Abilify and would routinely cycle me through other medication as well. While I was at Maple Lake, they [...]

By Anonymous: 2019-2020 I have been a victim of institutional child abuse since age twelve. As a child, I suffered from severe anxiety and depression. I was bullied at school and struggled academically due to a learning disorder. My parents, heartbroken by my suffering, decided to get me help. They brought me to NYP Westchester, [...]

By Meg: 2001-2004 I was 15 years old in February of 2001 when I was abducted in the middle of the night by two people who told me that I had to “come with them”. They were very clear about my lack of choice in the matter by stating “we can do this the easy [...]

By Joel: 2006-2008 I wasn’t sexually abused, or even physically abused. For the longest time I couldn’t accept that I was abused at all. They do a good job scrubbing those suggestible little minds and turning them on each other to both spread and reinforce their twisted ideology. “Don’t be a victim” was always so [...]

By Savanna: 2017-2018 The trauma was worse than anything I possibly could have imagined anything could do to a human being. The worst part of looking back at what I went through is that two of my primary abusers are still employed there to this day. And what’s more, is that they delete any and [...]

By Kim: 1998-2003 In the spring of 1998, at age 12, I was sent to be evaluated by a therapist with supposed expertise in substance use problems after my mom found something written in my diary about drug use and was understandably concerned. I was never told the reason for the evaluation or asked about [...]