There’s a recent story from the New York Times, Suicides and Rape at a Prized Mental Health Center, which centers around Timberline Knolls in Chicago, run by this massive group, Acadia, that basically ran these treatment facilities across the country and what happened in Chicago, which took place for years and years, is rape, people dying accidentally and just overall abuse.
Transcript:
*This transcript was generated by a third-party transcription software company, so please excuse any typos.
Caleb Cunningham: So let’s talk about this New York Times story. It’s suicides and rapes at prized mental health center.
Farron Cousins: Yeah. There was this mental health center called Timberline Knolls in Chicago, run by this massive group, Acadia, that basically ran these treatment facilities across the country. And what we saw in Chicago, which took place for years and years, which it has now been shut down, but, rape, they had fight clubs with some of these people, overall abuse, people dying accidentally, people being allowed to unalive themselves intentionally due to a complete lack of supervision. But it was mostly the sexual assaults that went unreported. These women would go to the higher ups at the place and say, listen, this therapist is raping us. They waited weeks before they even bothered to call the police to look into it. Meanwhile, the therapist got to stay there and possibly still commit more sexual assaults on these very vulnerable women who couldn’t leave. They had nowhere else to go, and this is what was happening to them and the business did virtually nothing.
Caleb Cunningham: You know, I can’t say I’m shocked. Here at Leven Papantonio, I have sued these facilities all across the country. We’ve had ’em shut down. We’ve gotten money for victims, from a children’s perspective, right. So some of these places house children. This is a facility for an adult. But when you have the juxtaposition of money and lack of regulation and vulnerable people, this is what we see. And Acadia, their name pops up a lot in these lawsuits, as well as a handful of others that have started these for-profit mental health/prison facilities around the country. This is just one of the most recent examples.
Farron Cousins: And what we’ve seen a lot too with these organizations is that it mainly was for substance abuse. People going for rehab or people with mild mental disorders that they wanted to get worked out and then obviously would be able to leave, re-enter society. But recently they said, you know what? We’re not getting enough money, so let’s reach out to their little salespeople, I guess you would call them. Go talk to families with a family member that’s autistic. Go talk to these families with somebody who really is not that bad, but maybe there’s a problem we can exploit. Maybe they go to the casino a little too much, let’s bring them in and get this money, because it’s all about profit. It’s not about helping any of these people. It’s pack the beds. We won’t hire as many staffers, so we save money there while we’re making more over here. And the lack of proper staffing, the lack of vetting for the people they’re bringing in is what leads to all of these problems that we have seen. Again, not just with Timberline Knolls, but in these institutions across the country in every state. This is not limited to, oh, this is only up North. It happens in Alabama. It’s happened here in Florida, in California, in Texas, everywhere, this is taking place.
Caleb Cunningham: Well, I’ve certainly had to fly all across the country, both working at legislative fixes. In fact, one of the heroines of this story, oddly enough, is Paris Hilton. We’ve had her speak and we’ve worked with her charity organization to change the laws in some of these states. I want to be clear, the hiring practices of some of these places is what I like to call the mirror test. They hold a mirror under your nose, and if it fogs up, you’re qualified. And these are the people that are working 12, 15 hour shifts that are supposed to be supervising them. They’re not doing background checks. The sexual assault, the suicides, the beatings at these facilities is truly horrific and the states are not doing enough to regulate and supervise them. And then when you take them into court, they say, oh, well, we’re certified by some organization that is owned by the industry. And then they try to confuse juries. It’s really disgusting and I’m glad our viewers are being educated about this, because if you or a loved one is suffering with mental health or behavioral problems, or drug addiction, do your research. Read the reviews online. Talk to somebody who’s been there if you can, because they’re selling you on something. They’re selling you on putting a vulnerable person who may not be believed in a facility where they control everything.
Farron Cousins: Yeah. They’re gonna give you the timeshare kind of sales pitch. This is great. You’re gonna love it. No, don’t listen to those folks. Talk to people that have been there. It may be difficult to find them, but those are the people that have actually experienced everything that happens behind the scenes. They know best. Because there is, it’s an epidemic. It’s an epidemic of this abuse and it’s only just now coming to light. And we need, mostly, we need these legislative fixes. These have to be regulated by the state. We have to have state people going in there on a regular basis, conducting these investigations. Just wellness checks essentially. But, until then, this problem’s gonna persist and the lawsuits are certainly helping, but these companies will just move on. They’ll change their names, start the whole thing over again. It’s a horrible cycle.
Caleb Cunningham: One of the hardest things I’ve done, both as a prosecutor and working at Levin Papantonio with these cases, is talking to a child who said, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t think anybody would believe me. And I want to tell those children and tell our viewers, we believe you. Talk to an attorney who knows what they’re doing. Go on Facebook, go on Reddit. Share your story if you feel comfortable, but find those stories from other people. Don’t let this happen. Don’t let this happen in your backyard, and certainly don’t let it happen to one of your loved ones. Thank you, Farron. Appreciate you.
Farron Cousins: Thanks, man.
