Mental Health Watchdog Calls for Stronger Oversight and Industry Reform in Response to Reports of Abuse in Psychiatric and Behavioral Facilities
-- The Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), a long-standing mental health industry watchdog, is calling attention to the issue of sexual abuse in psychiatric and behavioral health facilities and urging increased regulatory protections and oversight. This call follows research and reports that have documented cases of patient mistreatment and identified areas where accountability measures may need improvement, particularly in for-profit residential psychiatric hospitals.
Recent studies and reports underscore the risks patients may face in these environments. A 2023 study estimated that between 5% and 45% of patients in inpatient mental health facilities have reported experiencing sexual violence.[1] Further research from the UK suggests that 95% of such cases may never be officially reported, raising concerns about the extent of unaddressed abuse.[2]
The issue is especially critical in treatment centers that care for minors, where oversight mechanisms may be insufficient to prevent misconduct. Reports indicate that some survivors and their families encounter difficulties in reporting incidents due to institutional barriers and restrictive disclosure policies.[3]
Investigations in other countries suggest the problem may be widespread. A 2024 inquiry into mental health hospitals in the UK identified tens of thousands of cases of sexual violence, with only a small fraction referred to law enforcement.[4] These findings engender concerns in the U.S. and highlight the need for increased scrutiny of psychiatric and behavioral facilities to ensure patient safety.
In response, CCHR is advocating for:
• Stronger safeguards to prevent abuse and protect vulnerable patients.
• Greater transparency in reporting and handling of allegations.
• Independent oversight to ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards.
“Regulatory agencies and mental health providers must take immediate steps to strengthen safeguards and reporting mechanisms in these facilities,” said Jan Eastgate, president of CCHR International. “Ensuring the protection of children and other vulnerable individuals in psychiatric hospitals should be a top priority.”
CCHR, founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz, author of Cruel Compassion: Psychiatric Control of Society's Unwanted, has worked for decades to advocate for the rights of mental health patients. The organization encourages survivors, families, and whistleblowers to report mistreatment through its Abuse Case Hotline.
Sources:
[1] Holly Betterly, Meghan Musselman, and Renée Sorrentino, “Sexual assault in the inpatient psychiatric setting,” General Hospital Psychiatry, Vol. 82, May-June 2023, Pages 7-13, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163834323000270
[2] Rebecca Thomas and Sky News’s Rob Mulhern, “Mental health patients ‘r*ped and sexually assaulted’ as NHS abuse scandal revealed,” The Independent, 29 Jan. 2024, www.independent.co.uk/news/health/sexual-abuse-mental-health-uk-b2484163.html
[3] Ronald V. Miller, Jr., “Residential Treatment Facility Sex Abuse Lawsuits,” Lawsuit Information Center, 14 Nov. 2024, www.lawsuit-information-center.com/residential-treatment-facility-sex-abuse-lawsuits.html
[4] Ronald V. Miller, Jr., “Residential Treatment Facility Sex Abuse Lawsuits,” Lawsuit Information Center, 14 Nov. 2024, www.lawsuit-information-center.com/residential-treatment-facility-sex-abuse-lawsuits.html
Contact Info:
Name: Amber Rauscher
Email: Send Email
Organization: Citizens Commission on Human Rights International
Address: 6616 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028, United States
Phone: +1-323-467-4242
Website: https://www.cchrint.org
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89155359
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