Unsilenced, a leading nonprofit organization committed to supporting survivors and reforming the 'Troubled Teen Industry' (TTI), has introduced the Unsilenced Impact app. Available on both Apple and Android platforms, the app aims to provide immediate access to crucial resources for survivors and their allies.
The Unsilenced Impact app offers connections to expert help, justice, and support, as well as professional development resources, opportunities for meaningful activism, and a vibrant online community. According to Meg Appelgate, CEO of Unsilenced and a survivor of TTI abuse, the app is a pivotal tool for both healing and involvement. 'It's the next step in our mission to help equip our community, empower self-advocates, and enable lasting social change,' Appelgate stated.
The 'Troubled Teen Industry' encompasses thousands of programs and facilities that claim to offer reform, therapy, and rehabilitation to troubled youth. However, these institutions often deliver abuse, neglect, and psychological harm instead. Annually, an estimated 120,000 to 200,000 children and teens are placed in TTI facilities such as 'boot camps,' 'teen ranches,' 'wilderness therapy,' 'therapeutic boarding schools,' and 'residential treatment centers' both in the United States and abroad.
Recent media, including HBO Max's 'Teen Torture, Inc.,' Paris Hilton's 'I Am Paris' documentary, and Appelgate's own book, 'Becoming UNSILENCED: Surviving and Fighting the Troubled Teen Industry', have brought increased attention to the abuses within the TTI. Thousands of survivors have come forward to share their experiences, calling for urgent reforms.
Founded in 2021, Unsilenced is dedicated to protecting the civil, social, and human rights of youth by promoting healthy and effective alternatives to the TTI. Through education, awareness, survivor support, and access to justice, the organization aims to foster better health outcomes for children and youth dealing with mental health and educational challenges.
