Here's my letter - I don't know if they will post
I understand that you suggested that parents send their daughter to Provo Canyon School for treatment.
I had a teen sufferning from severe depression and sent her to Provo Canyon School in Orem Utah upon the advise of three therapists in California. What happend to her at Provo Canyon School defies beleif and was in no way therapeutic for a patient suffering from severe depression.
She was severely punished with isolation and seclusion for a week for describing her maltreatment in a group therapy session. She was drugged with an injection of Haldol by force while six people held her down. During this episode she told staff that she could not breathe and nearly died from asphyxiation. After the ordeal she became unconscious and blacked out. The staff left her in this small, cold, concrete room. No one monitored her. In the morning she was lethargic and staff kicked her until she woke up. She was the faced with the horrifying side effects of a Haldol overdose - facial contortions, drooling, inability to swallow, blindness and severe back pain. Emergency care was not given, instead she was forced to do chores and was punished for fighting against the forced injections. She also witnessed the brutal human take downs of other girls and could hear the boys ages 12 -13 screaming day and night. There were many other abuses she experienced. . The maltreatment she received caused her to derail psychologically. Fortunately we were able to rescue her before more damage was done.
I strongly suggest that you look at the other side of this lucrative teen industry - that lacks regulation and governmental oversight. The children in these facilities are truly vulnerable to abuse of every kind because they are shut-off from the world.
I made reports of this abuse to the authorities - CPS the Attorney General of Utah, Health and Human Services. All we receieved were carefully worded letters indicating that nothing would be done.
These programs may do more harm than good to mentally ill teens - especially those suffering from trauma or depression.
Residential treatment of teens needs more regulation and oversight before being recommended on National television.... :wave: