Warning: This episode contains descriptions of captivity, mental-health trauma and suicidal thoughts.
A Times investigation into a leading chain of psychiatric hospitals in the United States reveals a world where profits trump medical needs, and patients are detained against their will.
Jessica Silver-Greenberg, an investigative reporter for the Business section of The New York Times, tells the story of one woman who was trapped inside.
Guest: Jessica Silver-Greenberg (https://www.nytimes.com/by/jessica-silver-greenberg) , an investigative reporter for the Business section of The New York Times.
Background reading:
• How a leading chain of psychiatric hospitals traps patients (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/01/business/acadia-psychiatric-patients-trapped.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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Being kept against your will like this sounds maddening. As in, I would go in sane, come out crazy.
Damn this is so interesting. So is it the for profit motive? I’m in canada and from what I understand it’s pretty hard to get committed.
Maybe we only getting half the story?
In 2023 I was held prisoner at Rio Vista Behavioral Health Hospital in Texas against my will after being diagnosed incorrectly by a “doctor” that told my parents that I was schizophrenic when in reality I was suffering hallucinations from dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, I was extremely dizzy and disoriented. Once we arrived they did not hesitate to have me sign paperwork to have me admitted, even in my groggy state. They promised my parents that I would only be admitted overnight and released in the morning, but as soon as they got me to sign the paperwork, they explained that I would be admitted for 7-10 days. After hearing this news, we attempted to leave, but they They trapped my parents and I behind a security door and would not allow us to leave , they even threatened to call the police if my parents didnt admit me. After i was admitted against my will, I was not able to leave after numerous requests even after proving I was not a threat to myself or others, they didn’t care if I had a job or car payments to make, or a life to get back to. They kept trying to convince me that I was crazy by saying i was hearing voices and seeing things. Threatening to keep me more days if I raised my voice even a little bit. They didn’t even care that I could lose my job if I was kept longer than a week. They took me off my adhd medication and prescribed me something completely different. I felt like a prisoner the entire time and I no longer trust medical professionals thanks to this place. It’s been months since this incident and I still have ptsd from all this.
For me, it’s the movie “Ghost”.
I used to LOVE that movie. Patrick Swayze was a great actor in it.
I can’t watch it now.
Since 2016.
All of the comments under this video have me crying. Thank you all SO much for sharing your thoughts because they are all so validating. I’ve been trying to seek justice for nearly a decade and have been treated like I don’t know what I’m talking about. Thank you. I’m not Kathy, but I feel like I could almost recite her story word for word. It’s been so long and I gave up. Until now. Thank you.