Mother of patient at closed mental health facility expresses feelings of heartbreak and fear

After speaking to a concerned parent whose son was admitted to Retreat Behavioral Health following a fentanyl overdose, it became clear that there were significant issues with the facility. Cynthia Craig shared her experience of her son being abruptly asked to leave Retreat and getting into an Uber with another patient. Her son left her a message on the Uber driver’s phone, expressing the urgency of the situation and the chaos that was unfolding at the facility. Craig was distraught and scared, not knowing where her son was or how to help him.

Days later, Craig received a call informing her that her son had been transferred to a rehab facility in Miami. Despite this, she remained worried about him being in an unfamiliar environment and feeling unsafe. Her son had left Retreat without his belongings, as the facility had apparently discarded them in dumpsters. This raised concerns about the treatment and care provided at Retreat Behavioral Health, prompting further investigation by reporters at WPTV.

As the reporters sought answers from Florida’s Department of Children and Families, who oversee facilities like Retreat, they were met with limited information. DCF acknowledged the request for information but provided no concrete details about the status of the patients who were at Retreat. The situation highlighted the need for transparency and accountability within the mental health care system, to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals seeking treatment.