TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains references to suicide and self-harm.
Paris Jackson Reveals Traumatic Experiences in Treatment Facilities Following Teenage Suicide Attempt
LOS ANGELES, CA – Paris Jackson, daughter of the late music icon Michael Jackson, has recently shed light on a deeply troubling period of her life, detailing a suicide attempt at the age of 15 and the subsequent, often harmful, experiences in various treatment facilities. Rather than offering healing, Jackson candidly shared that some of these institutions left her with profound emotional scarring, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
During an appearance on Jay Shetty’s podcast, ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty,’ Jackson revisited one of the darkest chapters of her past. She recounted her attempt to end her life as a 15-year-old and the ensuing admissions to medical facilities. However, what should have been a path to recovery instead became a source of further trauma.
"Each one was different. I know some people that have been to the ones that were not as bad or worse," Jackson commented, elaborating on the varied nature of the facilities she attended. She continued, "I definitely left with more PTSD than I went in there with and had nightmares for two or three years about going back after I finally left because I was there for a couple of months." Despite her harrowing experiences, Jackson acknowledged that she was, in some ways, "lucky," suggesting that others endured even harsher conditions.
Further delving into the opaque realities behind the closed doors of these institutions, Jackson revealed a pervasive atmosphere of mistrust. She stated that she could never truly confide in or trust the staff members. "There was definitely a lot of psychological, emotional, and spiritual abuse that happened there, like pitting the clients against each other," she disclosed. She described a system where patients were denied privacy, with officials monitoring their phone calls to family members. If a patient dared to voice concerns, nurses would reportedly call their relatives, dismissing their accounts as lies. "You have to learn how to kind of play the game if you want to get out," Jackson concluded, painting a grim picture of manipulative dynamics.
This is not the first time Paris Jackson has openly discussed her struggles with mental health, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, she first revealed her suicide attempts, attributing them to feelings of worthlessness. "Thinking that I couldn’t do anything right, not thinking I was worthy of living anymore," she confessed. Reflecting on her younger self, she added, "I’m a completely different person. I was crazy. I was actually crazy. I was going through a lot of, like, teen angst. And I was also dealing with my depression and my anxiety without any help."
In her 2020 series, ‘Unfiltered: Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn,’ she elaborated on the genesis of many of her challenges, pinpointing the period following her father’s death when she moved into her grandmother’s home. She shared, "I gained a lot of weight, and [eating] became an addiction… and then a cousin called me fat, so I was like, ‘OK, I can’t do that anymore,’ and that’s how I fell into self-harm. I would cut and burn myself. I never thought that I would die from it because I was always in control of the razor, and I knew how deep I was going."
Now 28, Jackson continues to navigate her emotional landscape, actively seeking help and demonstrating resilience in managing her feelings and emotions. Her recent candid revelations serve as a powerful testament to the often-hidden struggles within mental health treatment systems and highlight the importance of ethical, compassionate care.
DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or mental illness, please seek professional help immediately from a doctor, mental health expert, or NGO. Helplines are also available.
