Trending...
- BKM's Senior Managing Director of Operations, Susan Rounds, and Associate Director of Design, Koren Mercer, Honored as 2025 Women of Influence - 110
- California: TOMORROW: Governor Newsom joins CAL FIRE to announce an expansion of world's largest aerial firefighting force - 104
- Snell & Wilmer Partner Keith Gregory Named a Top 100 Lawyer & Champion of Mentorship by the LABJ
CCHR Demands Increased Oversight and Accountability in Response to National Scandal of Staff-Inflicted Sexual Abuse in Residential Behavioral Hospitals
LOS ANGELES - Californer -- The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) International, a leading watchdog for the mental health industry abuse for over 56 years, is urgently calling for stronger regulatory protections and accountability to address the epidemic of sexual abuse allegations in psychiatric and behavioral facilities. This comes in the wake of CCHR's report from February 2025, which revealed disturbing increases in reports of sexual abuse of patients by staff in for-profit residential psychiatric hospitals.
Research and reports from the UK indicate that a shocking 95% of such cases may never be reported to authorities, which CCHR believes could reflect a similar situation in the U.S., leaving survivors without justice and perpetrators unpunished.[1] Furthermore, many of the victims in these facilities are vulnerable juveniles, with the Lawsuit Information Center warning that the problem is particularly severe in programs that "operate with minimal regulation or oversight from state authorities, creating an environment where abuse can go undetected for long periods."[2]
"Abuse thrives in environments with minimal oversight," said Jan Eastgate, President of CCHR International. "Many mental health facilities operate with little supervision, creating a breeding ground for these horrific acts to go undetected for years. Treating psychiatrists, hospital staff and profit-driven corporate managers have been complicit in failing to act to protect."
In some cases, survivors and their families have struggled to bring incidents to light due to restrictive reporting mechanisms and institutional resistance to transparency.
Recent studies confirm these claims, with a 2023 report revealing that 5 to 45% of inpatient mental health patients have experienced sexual violence during their admission.[3] Another study by the Joint Commission found that assault and sexual assault incidents in hospitals generally had risen 77% over two years, with nearly 43% of cases involving sexual assaults – 28% of which were perpetrated by staff members.[4]
More on The Californer
In response to this systemic abuse, CCHR is calling for immediate regulatory changes, including the revocation of government contracts for any facility found to have committed sexual abuse and criminal accountability for those responsible and a review of their Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. The group emphasizes that for-profit psychiatric and behavioral hospitals should be held accountable as a condition of receiving government or private insurance reimbursements.
CCHR's calls for reform after several high-profile cases. In Detroit, Fox 2 News reported on a facility that for decades has had allegations of sexual abuse against children. The psychiatric hospital was suspended for five years in 2022, accused of covering up "horrific" sexual abuse.[5] Over 70% of the owning company's revenue in 2024 derived from Medicaid (56.5%) and Medicare (14.2%) representing $2.2 billion of its total $3.15 billion.
The problem is not confined to the United States. A 2024 investigation by The Independent and Sky News uncovered tens of thousands of sexual assaults and incidents at state-run mental health hospitals in the UK. The investigation revealed that fewer than 5% of sexual incidents reported to hospitals were referred to the police, while over 19,000 incidents occurred between 2019 and 2023, including hundreds of reports of serious assaults on women.[6]
A 2024 U.S. Senate investigation into residential mental health treatment centers further revealed severe abuse cases, including sexual violence, physical harm, and neglect, particularly against minors with developmental disabilities or those in foster care systems. These facilities often rely on public funding, raising significant concerns about the safety of children under the care of these institutions.[7]
Lawsuit Information Center reports, "Most concerningly, many of these minors—who often have developmental disabilities or are part of the foster care system—are placed in these facilities with public funding, including Medicaid and child welfare dollars. This raises serious questions about the use of taxpayer money to support facilities that fail to ensure the safety and well-being of children under their care."
"For-profit psychiatric and behavioral hospitals must be held accountable for prioritizing financial gain over patient well-being," Jan Eastgate, president of CCHR International said. "We need real consequences for those who allow these abuses to continue."
More on The Californer
CCHR, which was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and the professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, is calling for an overhaul of the system, including substantial fines for negligent facilities, penalties for those responsible for abuse, and the creation of more accessible mechanisms for patients and families to report abuse without fear of retribution. Patients and their families are urged to use CCHR's Abuse Case form to report any incidents of abuse.
Sources:
[1] 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
[2] 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
[3] 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
[4] Gretchen Morgenson, "Lean staffing, lax hiring, training flaws: Why sexual assaults at hospitals are up
Allegations that go unreported and a lack of accountability for healthcare workers leave patients in the dark and increase the risk of abuse, research shows," NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/lean-staffing-lax-hiring-training-flaws-assaults-hospitals-are-rcna171055
[5] "Closed Detroit youth mental health facility accused of covering up 'horrific' sexual abuse in new lawsuit," Fox 2 Detroit, 11 Mar. 2025, www.fox2detroit.com/news/closed-detroit-youth-mental-health-facility-accused-covering-up-horrific-sexual-abuse-new-lawsuit
[6] 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
[7] 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
Research and reports from the UK indicate that a shocking 95% of such cases may never be reported to authorities, which CCHR believes could reflect a similar situation in the U.S., leaving survivors without justice and perpetrators unpunished.[1] Furthermore, many of the victims in these facilities are vulnerable juveniles, with the Lawsuit Information Center warning that the problem is particularly severe in programs that "operate with minimal regulation or oversight from state authorities, creating an environment where abuse can go undetected for long periods."[2]
"Abuse thrives in environments with minimal oversight," said Jan Eastgate, President of CCHR International. "Many mental health facilities operate with little supervision, creating a breeding ground for these horrific acts to go undetected for years. Treating psychiatrists, hospital staff and profit-driven corporate managers have been complicit in failing to act to protect."
In some cases, survivors and their families have struggled to bring incidents to light due to restrictive reporting mechanisms and institutional resistance to transparency.
Recent studies confirm these claims, with a 2023 report revealing that 5 to 45% of inpatient mental health patients have experienced sexual violence during their admission.[3] Another study by the Joint Commission found that assault and sexual assault incidents in hospitals generally had risen 77% over two years, with nearly 43% of cases involving sexual assaults – 28% of which were perpetrated by staff members.[4]
More on The Californer
- VCCCD Marketing Teams Honored in Public Relations Awards Ceremony
- BD&J Injury Lawyers Bolsters Leadership with Advancement of Eleven Junior Partners
- City of Long Beach Commemorates Demolition of English Village Near Queen Mary
- California: Governor Newsom proclaims Workers' Memorial Day 2025
- Angelo Ponzi Debuts Heartfelt New Album "Lover of Country Music", Now Available Worldwide
In response to this systemic abuse, CCHR is calling for immediate regulatory changes, including the revocation of government contracts for any facility found to have committed sexual abuse and criminal accountability for those responsible and a review of their Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. The group emphasizes that for-profit psychiatric and behavioral hospitals should be held accountable as a condition of receiving government or private insurance reimbursements.
CCHR's calls for reform after several high-profile cases. In Detroit, Fox 2 News reported on a facility that for decades has had allegations of sexual abuse against children. The psychiatric hospital was suspended for five years in 2022, accused of covering up "horrific" sexual abuse.[5] Over 70% of the owning company's revenue in 2024 derived from Medicaid (56.5%) and Medicare (14.2%) representing $2.2 billion of its total $3.15 billion.
The problem is not confined to the United States. A 2024 investigation by The Independent and Sky News uncovered tens of thousands of sexual assaults and incidents at state-run mental health hospitals in the UK. The investigation revealed that fewer than 5% of sexual incidents reported to hospitals were referred to the police, while over 19,000 incidents occurred between 2019 and 2023, including hundreds of reports of serious assaults on women.[6]
A 2024 U.S. Senate investigation into residential mental health treatment centers further revealed severe abuse cases, including sexual violence, physical harm, and neglect, particularly against minors with developmental disabilities or those in foster care systems. These facilities often rely on public funding, raising significant concerns about the safety of children under the care of these institutions.[7]
Lawsuit Information Center reports, "Most concerningly, many of these minors—who often have developmental disabilities or are part of the foster care system—are placed in these facilities with public funding, including Medicaid and child welfare dollars. This raises serious questions about the use of taxpayer money to support facilities that fail to ensure the safety and well-being of children under their care."
"For-profit psychiatric and behavioral hospitals must be held accountable for prioritizing financial gain over patient well-being," Jan Eastgate, president of CCHR International said. "We need real consequences for those who allow these abuses to continue."
More on The Californer
- Flexi-View Lending Closes $9 Million Construction Loan for New Hotel Development
- Inaugural Venice Beach Half Marathon & 5K to Debut on Sunday, May 18, 2025
- Beyond Words: Why Hollywood's Success Hinges on True Localization, Not Just Translation
- Appdome Named Winner of AI, Anti-Fraud, and ATO Awards at 2025 RSA Conference
- Waterside Productions Announces Terry-Lynn Johnson's New Poetry Book Blackbirds & Linen
CCHR, which was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and the professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, is calling for an overhaul of the system, including substantial fines for negligent facilities, penalties for those responsible for abuse, and the creation of more accessible mechanisms for patients and families to report abuse without fear of retribution. Patients and their families are urged to use CCHR's Abuse Case form to report any incidents of abuse.
Sources:
[1] 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
[2] 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
[3] 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
[4] Gretchen Morgenson, "Lean staffing, lax hiring, training flaws: Why sexual assaults at hospitals are up
Allegations that go unreported and a lack of accountability for healthcare workers leave patients in the dark and increase the risk of abuse, research shows," NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/lean-staffing-lax-hiring-training-flaws-assaults-hospitals-are-rcna171055
[5] "Closed Detroit youth mental health facility accused of covering up 'horrific' sexual abuse in new lawsuit," Fox 2 Detroit, 11 Mar. 2025, www.fox2detroit.com/news/closed-detroit-youth-mental-health-facility-accused-covering-up-horrific-sexual-abuse-new-lawsuit
[6] 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
[7] 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
Source: Citizens Commission on Human Rights International
Filed Under: Consumer, Medical, Health, Government, Science, Citizens Commission On Human Rights, CCHR International
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- May Is Deck Safety Month, Get Your Deck Inspected for Only $200, Regularly $350
- Abbott Highlights New AVEIR™ Data, Initiates Trial for the Company's Conduction System Pacing Technology
- City of Long Beach Issues Rain Advisory Due to Recent Showers
- New Clinical Study Data Showcase Long-Term, Sustained Benefits of Abbott's Volt™ PFA System for Patients with AFib USA - English USA - English
- Soccer Soar USA Launches in Los Angeles: Ultimate Soccer Magazine Kicks Off with First Issue
- California: Governor Newsom on new DOGE action to dismantle AmeriCorps: 'We will serve the federal government with a lawsuit'
- Costa Rica's Rainy Season Brings a Surge in Sportfishing Action and Travel Deals
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 4.25.25
- California exceeds 4 million MyShake app downloads, urges Californians to take preparedness steps
- Medtronic receives FDA approval for smallest-diameter, lumenless defibrillation lead, the OmniaSecure™ lead and announces investigational clinical study results
- California, federal government, Yuba Water Agency partner up in historic project to reopen North Yuba River to native fish
- People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos Announces New Board Leadership & Corporate Partnership Initiative
- What People Are Saying About ZIBA
- Blue Wolf Interactive Reveals Critical Strategies for Local Businesses to Dominate Near Me Searches
- Breaking Celebrity News Actor/Influencer Andre Swilley to Attend World Premier of "Thunderbolts"
- Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine to Offer a Variety of Recreation Classes This Summer
- My Community Health Fair presents the second annual DTLA Spring Health Fair
- InventHelp Inventor Develops New Automatic Landing Gear Crank (SBM-175)
- How to Fast-Track Your Way to the Top with The Code
- OhMyPretty New Human Hair Half Wigs: Perfect For Summer