27 / 32
Page 77
conferenceseries
.com
Volume 21
International Journal of Emergency Mental
Health and Human Resilience
ISSN: 1522-4821
Mental Health 2019
March 07-08, 2019
March 07-08, 2019 | Barcelona, Spain
5
th
International Conference on
Mental Health and Human Resilience
Protecting our youth: Conversion therapy & institutional abuse
Samantha I Gerson
USA
I
nstitutional abuse is a national epidemic that our country has chosen to ignore. Many parents send their children
to Residential Treatment Facilities when the child's behavior becomes too much for the parent to handle. Other
parents send their children to these facilities when the child comes out to them and they want a quick fix to what they
view as a problem. While treatment facilities and educational reparative environments can be a great resource and
beneficial to those they offer treatment to, many abuse their power and physically, emotionally, and sexually abuse
the children they are there to care for. This epidemic is ongoing, and many lawsuits have been filed, but the abuse
has not stopped. Advocates have worked with legislation to change laws, but this work has not been enough. This is
true of Conversion Therapy as well, as it has not been outlawed federally. In fact, it is a common practice in many of
these facilities. The truth about conversion therapy is frightening and this workshop will touch on the facts, details
and all other information to what occurs behind Residential Facility’s closed doors. Television and other forms
of media often make these types of environments look fun, friendly, and safe; but the truth is they often result in
youth leaving with PTSD, physical disorders, and sometimes, death (by suicide). This workshop will help attendees
become familiar with institutional abuse and how they can advocate against it; in addition to connecting survivors
to resources. This workshop will be from a Social Work lens, and very interactive.
sigerson217@gmail.comInt J Emerg Ment Health 2019, Volume 21
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C1-027