Hawthorn's Childrens Psychiatric Hospital

“I was sent here for about six months when I was 14–15 years old (2017–2018) because I was struggling with severe anxiety. I am now 23, and the horrific abuse I endured there, along with the abuse I witnessed happening to other children still impacts me every single day. I live with PTSD, traumatic flashbacks, and nightmares about what happened inside that facility. What I experienced there was not help. It was abuse. Most of the staff were physically and emotionally abusive. We were constantly talked down to, degraded, and treated as though we were less than human. When my parents were finally allowed to visit, they were horrified by what they saw. The doctor had me so heavily medicated that I was slurring my words, drooling, and barely functioning. “Punishments” were cruel and traumatizing. They ranged from verbal abuse and physical aggression to taking away my glasses so I couldn’t even see. I was sent to the “quiet room” almost daily for things like crying, not participating enough, or simply showing emotional distress. Some days, I was placed in full body restraints and injected with “booty juice.” I would then be left alone for hours without being checked on sometimes to the point of becoming severely dehydrated and needing medical attention. Food was also withheld as punishment. I still see the psychiatrist in my nightmares. I can still picture his creepy smile. Even now, years later, the fear remains. They claimed to encourage connection between kids, but that was a lie. If you became too friendly with your roommate or spoke too much with other children, you were severely disciplined. “Outside time” meant being placed in a small, barbed wire fenced area with a playground and sidewalk but even there, speaking to other kids could get you punished. This place did not heal children. It traumatized them. I am speaking out because no child deserves to experience what I did, and no parent should unknowingly send their child into that kind of environment believing they are getting help. If you are a parent searching for treatment for your child, please do not send them here. There are other options. Better options. I carry what happened to me there every day, silently battling the damage it caused. If sharing my story can save even one child from enduring the same suffering, then it is worth it. Please, send your child somewhere else.”

“After reading the other reviews, I was terrified to send my daughter here, but we didn’t have any other options. THIS ENDED UP BEING THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE! The staff in the children’s unit and the residential unit were very sweet and helpful for her. My daughter said none of them were mean or aggressive to her or any of the other kids there. They genuinely seemed like they cared about all the kids. Hawthorn staff made sure I was very involved with my daughter’s care plan and since I live 4 hours away from the hospital, we did weekly video family therapy sessions that helped me to be fully involved. And monthly reviews with the doctors and teachers all together in a group meeting. My daughter was here 9 months (which was based off her individual need but not all kids have to stay that long), and she saw many kids come and go and all of the were treated kindly by staff. Even though Hawthorn is 4 hours away, if my daughter ever needs to be re-admitted to a psychiatric hospital, this is where she will be going. It has been a long road for us but we wouldn’t have been able to get back to our “normal” life without Hawthorns help. The negative reviews on here make no sense to me.”

“I was there 14 years ago when I was 15-16 years old. I’m about to be 30. I only remember one staff member, and it was Nadine. She worked in cottage C with us. For me to remember her says a lot about her. I wish I could talk with her one more time. Tell her I have a successful business, an amazing family now and ECT. Nadine believed in me and every kid there, she taught me a lot too. Nadine if you’re seeing this I hope all is well; and I still think about you to this day.”

“I was placed here for a year and seven months in between the ages of 11-13 in the early 2010’s over behavioral problems. It was miserable and the amount of abuse amongst the staff to children, and children to children was awful.. do not ever leave your child at this place unless you want them mentally/verbally abused by staff, have other children possibly SA / hurt your child, watch kids cutting themselves / trying to off themselves, or treat them as a guinea pig on a bunch of different medications.”