Stolen Youth

Banning Lyon, a typical 15-year-old from Dallas, TX, enjoyed skateboarding, punk rock, and had a part-time job. In January 1987, his life was upended when he was forcibly placed in a psychiatric hospital for 11 months, confined to a chair facing the wall, isolated, and restricted from outside contact.

Lyon, it turned out, was a victim of a massive mental health care fraud scheme where school counselors received financial rewards for sending kids to psych units, allowing hospitals to collect insurance money. His memoir, The Chair and The Valley, is a raw, gut-wrenching story of healing from trauma and starting over.

Join us to hear about Banning's story.