Exposing the Troubled Teen Industry – A Call to Action for Change

The Hidden Crisis of Institutional Child Abuse

Behind closed doors, the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) perpetuates a hidden epidemic of institutional child abuse. Marketed as therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness therapy, group homes, religious academies, and residential treatment centers, these programs promise to help struggling youth. Instead, many create environments of harm, exploitation, and neglect. Unsilenced was founded by survivors and is dedicated to shedding light on these programs, empowering advocates, pushing for justice, and driving systemic change.

Understanding the Troubled Teen Industry

The TTI is a $32 billion industry that thrives on the vulnerability of families and other caregivers seeking support for youth. But within these facilities, youth often endure physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse disguised as "treatment." Many survivors report being subjected to isolation, civil rights violations, forced labor, and even outright violence. These abusive practices have long been hidden by opaque operations and a comprehensive lack of government oversight.

Why Awareness Matters

Raising public awareness is critical. For too long, survivors have been silenced, their voices overshadowed by industry narratives. Unsilenced is committed to amplifying these voices, advocating for justice, and equipping survivors with the resources they need to heal and rebuild their lives.

Our Mission to Drive Change

At Unsilenced, we focus on five pillars to combat the abuses of the TTI:

1. Survivor Support – Providing free post-program resources, support groups, and independence packs for those transitioning out of institutional settings.
2. Justice Support – Maintain an Attorney Directory to help connect survivors to law firms across the country who can help them seek justice.
3. Education – Training professionals and equipping them with the knowledge to support survivors effectively.
4. Awareness Campaigns – Highlight survivor stories and expose the realities of the TTI through presentations and social media platforms.
5. Community Building – Creating safe spaces for healing through events, support groups, and community-based initiatives.

A Call to Action

Ending institutional child abuse requires collective action. We urge the public to educate themselves about the TTI and support efforts to hold these institutions accountable. Together, we can demand greater oversight, transparency, and reform.

How You Can Help

• Follow and share Unsilenced’s work to amplify survivor voices.
• Support advocacy efforts by engaging with the movement.
• Donate to Unsilenced to us fight for justice and reform.

The fight to protect vulnerable youth is urgent and necessary. By standing together, we can envision a world where every child feels safe, supported, and free from institutional harm.

#unsilenced #unsilencednow #troubledteenindustry #breakingcodesilence #TTI #survivor #abuseawareness #mentalhealthmatters Meg Appelgate (Gochnauer) Tommy James Gareth Purnell Jenkins Mann Alan Mortensen Richard Gochnauer Grant Gochnauer Justice Law Collaborative, LLC Paris Hilton