Stella Österling was forcibly placed seven times • “You don’t get help anywhere”
It was night when she first stepped into the Sis home in Norrland, but the fourteen-year-old was not tired. She was terrified.
After being strip-searched, she had to go to bed in her room – which she hardly dared to leave during the month she spent at the home.
– It was terrible. I was terrified, says Stella Österling.
Has been forcibly placed seven times
Stella Österling has received attention for her summer talk in Summer in P1, where she recounts her experiences of her forced placements.
She has lived in six Sis homes and had seven placements. She was placed in a home twice. She testifies about staff abusing power and lack of knowledge about trauma and PTSD.
– You get locked in and have no power. Many in the staff abuse their power. You forget to put the water glass away and they scream and become slightly aggressive. They threw one into isolation. A small room with a yellow plastic mattress, says Stella Österling.
Felt better after treatment
After some time, Stella Österling received an autism diagnosis, moved to an open treatment center in Jönköping and life began to calm down. She had no tantrums, went to school and made friends.
But the psychological well-being was still at rock bottom. Stella Österling started with drugs and was therefore placed back in Si’s hands.
– Some have only been to emergency homes where you have to stay for a maximum of three months. But I’ve been there longer. I got no treatment, no help. It was more like a storage. When I came out, I felt even worse, she says.
Dreaming of a pardon
Today, Stella Österling has a job and is doing well. But she still struggles with the trauma of her time in the Sis home.
– I dream of an apology from those responsible. And to start with theatre, says Stella Österling.
This is SiS
SiS, the State Board of Institutions, is responsible for compulsory care of children and young people with serious psychosocial problems and adults with substance abuse problems. SiS also receives young people who have been sentenced to closed youth care.
Source: The Norwegian Institute Board
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