Inclusion Daily Express -- Newspaper Exposes Abuses At Texas Psych Hospitals

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Newspaper Exposes Abuses At Texas Psych Hospitals
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
May 8, 2008

AUSTIN, TEXAS--In the last three years, 72 employees at Texas' state-run psychiatric hospitals have been fired after being accused of abusing residents, the Dallas Morning News reported over the weekend.

In reviewing state personnel records, the newspaper found that dozens of employees at the state's ten mental health facilities have been involved in violence against residents, including beatings, choke-holds, improper restraints, and sexual assaults.

While several experts told the paper that there would always be accusations of abuse and neglect in any institutional setting, the paper concluded that the problems are systemic.

Just last year, the state psychiatric hospitals had 137 confirmed cases of abuse.

Previous exposés by the Morning News have revealed widespread abuse and neglect in state-run institutions, here called "state schools", that house people with intellectual disabilities.

But some advocates suggest that the problems are worse for those with psychiatric disabilities because they often don't have the same levels of social supports as many of those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

"It's a population that's easy to abuse because they're not on the radar in any way," said Richard Hansen, a Texas mental health advocate.

Related:
"Reports show systemic abuse at Texas' psychiatric hospitals" (Dallas Morning News)

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