Trending...
- Hawaii Bill Marks Progress in Protecting Patients From Dangerous Restraint Practices
- Penny Mills (Penny Millionaire) Unleashes Electrifying New Sounds with Latest Album Release
- All me - secure anonymous social - kickstarter crowdfunding
Mental Health Industry Watchdog CCHR Calls for Nationwide Ban, Citing History of Abuse and Fatalities in Troubled Teen Industry
LOS ANGELES - GeorgiaChron -- A top North Carolina health official is calling for a ban on wilderness therapy camps in the state following the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy at a now-closed wilderness therapy facility.[1] The mental health industry watchdog, Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), supports this action and urges the prohibition of such camps nationwide to ensure the safety of youths seeking help.
In his final weeks as North Carolina's Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley spoke to local media, stating that he believes wilderness therapy camps should be permanently outlawed in the state. His remarks follow the February 2024 death of a child at a camp in the western part of the state, which the NC Department of Health has since closed. The boy suffocated after being zipped into a sleeping bag with a device that prevented him from opening it. An autopsy later ruled his death a homicide.
"I don't think wilderness therapy camps have a place in our continuum of care in North Carolina," Kinsley said. "The law needs to be changed to permanently remove these licenses, so they don't exist." He expressed deep sympathy for the families affected by such tragedies, emphasizing the need to prevent other parents from experiencing similar heartbreak.
To implement this change, Kinsley emphasized that new legislation must be passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. CCHR suggests this could potentially be achieved by amending NC Codes to explicitly exclude wilderness therapy camps from being licensed as residential child-care facilities. Similarly, amendments to Licensing Procedures could specify that facilities employing wilderness-based therapeutic models are not eligible for licensure under mental health or substance use disorder treatment provisions.[2] The organization has urged state lawmakers to take action by inquiring with the Department about how wilderness camps can be prohibited under the state's health regulations.
More on Georgia Chron
In recent years, wilderness therapy camps have been widely scrutinized nationwide. A USA Today investigation in December 2022 revealed that many former participants described their experiences as negative and traumatizing, with some noting that these camps often serve as a gateway to longer-term residential treatment centers.[3] CCHR, which has been exposing abuse in these camps since the early 1990s, cites reports of deaths, mistreatment, and deceptive practices that have gone largely unregulated.[4] In 1995 there were almost 400 wilderness camps in the U.S.[5]
A 2008 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office documented abuse and deaths across these facilities, and more recent findings by Breaking Code Silence estimate that 150,000 to 200,000 children are enrolled in over 2,000 such programs nationwide, which includes 40 wilderness camps.[6] In Utah, the number of wilderness camps dropped 64% from 14 in 2014 to just five in 2023.[7]
With the decline came a decrease in deaths. Nationally, deaths in these facilities decreased by 81%, from 142 in the 2000s to 27 in the 2020s.[8]
Despite a decline in the number of wilderness camps due to increased scrutiny, CCHR argues that wilderness therapy camps are still a risk to vulnerable youth and should be prohibited.
The group, which was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, helped secure federal protections in the late 1990s against restraint use in mental health residential hospitals. It has helped secure hundreds of laws and regulations worldwide that provide protections to mental health patients and their families.
More on Georgia Chron
CCHR is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the troubled teen industry, part of which will be addressed by the recently passed federal Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which establishes a study to ultimately help prevent child abuse in youth residential programs. However, as the study may take several years, CCHR wants regulations now to impose robust penalties on facilities found abusing children and youths, including stronger regulations to revoke facility licenses and penalties for violations of vulnerable youth. As part of this, it says, wilderness therapy camps are no longer necessary as mental health care facilities for children and teens.
Sources:
[1] www.wbtv.com/2025/01/14/top-regulator-calls-ban-wilderness-camps-north-carolina/
[2] www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_122C/Article_2.html; regulations.justia.com/states/north-carolina/title-10a/chapter-27/subchapter-g/section-0400/
[3] www.usatoday.com/in-depth/life/health-wellness/2022/12/08/wilderness-therapy-troubled-teen-industry/9890694002/
[4] "Utah wilderness therapy deaths," Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Oct. 2007,
archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/news/ci_7139316
[5] "Taking Nature's Cure," U.S. News and World Report, June 26, 1995
[6] www.usatoday.com/in-depth/life/health-wellness/2022/12/08/wilderness-therapy-troubled-teen-industry/9890694002/
[7] www.sltrib.com/news/2024/05/07/nearly-half-utahs-wilderness/
[8] sierranevadaally.org/2023/08/02/dark-forest-a-look-inside-controversial-wilderness-therapy-camps/
In his final weeks as North Carolina's Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley spoke to local media, stating that he believes wilderness therapy camps should be permanently outlawed in the state. His remarks follow the February 2024 death of a child at a camp in the western part of the state, which the NC Department of Health has since closed. The boy suffocated after being zipped into a sleeping bag with a device that prevented him from opening it. An autopsy later ruled his death a homicide.
"I don't think wilderness therapy camps have a place in our continuum of care in North Carolina," Kinsley said. "The law needs to be changed to permanently remove these licenses, so they don't exist." He expressed deep sympathy for the families affected by such tragedies, emphasizing the need to prevent other parents from experiencing similar heartbreak.
To implement this change, Kinsley emphasized that new legislation must be passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. CCHR suggests this could potentially be achieved by amending NC Codes to explicitly exclude wilderness therapy camps from being licensed as residential child-care facilities. Similarly, amendments to Licensing Procedures could specify that facilities employing wilderness-based therapeutic models are not eligible for licensure under mental health or substance use disorder treatment provisions.[2] The organization has urged state lawmakers to take action by inquiring with the Department about how wilderness camps can be prohibited under the state's health regulations.
More on Georgia Chron
- InComm Payments Introduces New Mastercard "Give Hope" Gift Cards to Support the American Red Cross
- Global Digital Currency & Wealth Management Leader; Breakout 388% FY2025 Revenue Growth Over $19.7 Million: Metalpha Technology (Stock Symbol: MATH)
- Georgia's Sip & Swine BBQ Festival to Celebrate Ten Tantalizing Years
- Liquid Strategies Crosses $1Billion in Assets Under Management
- InterMountain Opens Urban Inspired Aloft Sacramento Airport Natomas
In recent years, wilderness therapy camps have been widely scrutinized nationwide. A USA Today investigation in December 2022 revealed that many former participants described their experiences as negative and traumatizing, with some noting that these camps often serve as a gateway to longer-term residential treatment centers.[3] CCHR, which has been exposing abuse in these camps since the early 1990s, cites reports of deaths, mistreatment, and deceptive practices that have gone largely unregulated.[4] In 1995 there were almost 400 wilderness camps in the U.S.[5]
A 2008 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office documented abuse and deaths across these facilities, and more recent findings by Breaking Code Silence estimate that 150,000 to 200,000 children are enrolled in over 2,000 such programs nationwide, which includes 40 wilderness camps.[6] In Utah, the number of wilderness camps dropped 64% from 14 in 2014 to just five in 2023.[7]
With the decline came a decrease in deaths. Nationally, deaths in these facilities decreased by 81%, from 142 in the 2000s to 27 in the 2020s.[8]
Despite a decline in the number of wilderness camps due to increased scrutiny, CCHR argues that wilderness therapy camps are still a risk to vulnerable youth and should be prohibited.
The group, which was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, helped secure federal protections in the late 1990s against restraint use in mental health residential hospitals. It has helped secure hundreds of laws and regulations worldwide that provide protections to mental health patients and their families.
More on Georgia Chron
- J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Principals of Georgia Capital and Paran Homes Launch Build-To-Rent Development Company
- Cura HR's CEO, Lyssa Hansard, Featured in Forbes: Driving Meaningful Change in Pay Equity
- CitySwitch and OneVizion Partner to Significantly Reduce Accounting and Lease Administration Costs Annually with ASC 842-Compliant Leasing Solution
- Zezgo Rent A Car has arrived In Cyprus to Improve Car Rental Options
- Meredith Thomas Returns as Master of Ceremonies for International Women's Day Gala for 2025
CCHR is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the troubled teen industry, part of which will be addressed by the recently passed federal Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which establishes a study to ultimately help prevent child abuse in youth residential programs. However, as the study may take several years, CCHR wants regulations now to impose robust penalties on facilities found abusing children and youths, including stronger regulations to revoke facility licenses and penalties for violations of vulnerable youth. As part of this, it says, wilderness therapy camps are no longer necessary as mental health care facilities for children and teens.
Sources:
[1] www.wbtv.com/2025/01/14/top-regulator-calls-ban-wilderness-camps-north-carolina/
[2] www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_122C/Article_2.html; regulations.justia.com/states/north-carolina/title-10a/chapter-27/subchapter-g/section-0400/
[3] www.usatoday.com/in-depth/life/health-wellness/2022/12/08/wilderness-therapy-troubled-teen-industry/9890694002/
[4] "Utah wilderness therapy deaths," Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Oct. 2007,
archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/news/ci_7139316
[5] "Taking Nature's Cure," U.S. News and World Report, June 26, 1995
[6] www.usatoday.com/in-depth/life/health-wellness/2022/12/08/wilderness-therapy-troubled-teen-industry/9890694002/
[7] www.sltrib.com/news/2024/05/07/nearly-half-utahs-wilderness/
[8] sierranevadaally.org/2023/08/02/dark-forest-a-look-inside-controversial-wilderness-therapy-camps/
Source: Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Filed Under: Health, Government
0 Comments
Latest on Georgia Chron
- BEPeterson Building Engineering Partnerships
- Master ICD-10-CM Code Selection with New Live Virtual Course for PPS Coordinators
- WonderDays: The Startup Disrupting the UK Gifting Industry
- Jimmy Etheredge to Join Southern Company Board of Directors
- Kelley Blue Book Report: Average New-Vehicle Prices Fell in January, But Were Higher Year Over Year By 1.3%
- SBAC becomes the sole owner of the Savannah Regional Small Business Capital Fund
- RE1 Advisor Expands Services to Texas
- Uhland Pop Shop Launches February 11, 2025, Bringing Local Pride to Uhland, TX
- Nova Health Labs Welcomes New Advisory Board Members to Drive Patient-Centered Innovation
- Partnerships to Launch Digital Entertainment Hub in China; $40 Million Investment into Global MOBA Digital Game Arena: NIP Group (Stock Symbol: NIPG)
- Georgia: Gov. Kemp Announces State Court Judge and County Solicitor Appointments
- Sip Social Co. Brings Refreshing Energy to the Miami Marathon Finish Festival with FP Movement
- Igniting Souls® and EOS Worldwide® Launch EOS Impact™: The Exclusive Publishing Collaboration for 850+ EOS Implementers
- Table for Two Introduces Exclusive Christian Curated Introductions for Elite Professionals
- Thrivent Survey Finds Troubling Gap Between Americans' Financial Fears, Actions
- Ceramic Liberty Unveils CL8Y: A Revolutionary Deflationary Memecoin Set to Redefine DeFi
- International Women's Day Gala to Celebrate Women's Achievements and Support Fire Survivors
- Sidow Sobrino Unleashes Bite After Bite, a Captivating Music Video & Song from His 12th Studio Album, Seminal
- VRC Acquires Redishred/Proshred, Strengthening Leadership in Information Governance Market
- Colonial Oil Industries Celebrates the Christening of New Tug and Barge