Troubled Teens: THE FIX – Psychiatric Prison for Troubled Teen

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In this show Dr. Mayer interviews, Juan, a teenager who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after his parents took him to an emergency room for having stomach pains or as he described, ‘butterflies in his stomach.” His parents are forced by emergency room staff to admit him to this psychiatric hospital stating that it is “the law.” This starts a nightmare of humiliation, fear, and confusion for this honor student whose only mistake was that he turned to others for help. Juan’s story details the healthcare system’s appalling lack of: understanding of teenagers, empathy, rapport, and lack of any tools to help them in their time of need. He and the other teens locked up in this psychiatric ward receive nightly ‘motivational talks’ which are nothing more than attempts at brainwashing done with no emotion by disengaged staff. Juan’s story reminds us of the movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and how little things have changed.