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When you’re the daughter of the most well-known pop singers in the world, the world is always going to be curious to some degree about what you’re up to and your life’s experiences. Fortunately, with someone as vulnerable and open as Paris Jackson, she’s willing to be honest about her struggles while growing up without her father, Michael Jackson, by her side.
On a recent podcast appearance, Paris opened up about her experience being sent to different facilities after she attempted suicide when she was just 15. Though she considered herself one of the “lucky ones,” she still found herself up against various forms of abuse while in treatment as a teen.
Paris Jackson left treatment facilities after a suicide attempt with debilitating PTSD.
On the August 17, 2026, episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, singer and actress, Paris Jackson, who is the 28-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson, was asked about the treatment facilities she visited after attempting suicide at 15 years old.
She explained that “each one was different,” and she knew “some people that have been to the ones that were not as bad or worse.”
Some treatment facilities for teens, particularly the ones that mogul Paris Hilton has publicly discussed — who has been an advocate for change for abolishing residential youth treatment facilities after suffering sexual and physical abuse when she was just 16 while at one — have come to light as not being a safe and healthy environment for teens, per NBC News.
“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,” Paris shared with Jay.
Paris suffered heinous abuse while she was supposed to be receiving mental health treatment.
Even though Paris considered herself “lucky” as she didn’t experience any “physical or sexual abuse” while in treatment, there were other forms of abuse that she experienced at the facility.
“There was definitely a lot of psychological, emotional, spiritual abuse that happened there. Like pitting the clients against each other,” she shared. Another troubling aspect she endured as feeling like she couldn’t even trust her roommate or therapist.
She noted that there was such a sense of isolation due to what the staff put the teens through. She explained her headspace most days while in the treatment facility.
“I can’t trust anybody here because anything you say could put you on the lowest level and you can’t really call your family and tell them because they’re listening. They will call your family and be like, ‘Don’t listen to her. She’s lying to you.’ And then you get a consequence… and you’re on meds and you’re zombie-d out and it’s rough,” she said.
Lastly, she shared that if you were someone who wanted to get out and go home, you had to “learn how to kind of play the game” in order to get out.
She’s not been shy about her battle with addiction.
Throughout her 28 years of life, Paris has endured so much pain and hardship, including a battle with addiction and alcoholism.
On January 7, 2025, Paris shared a reel on her Instagram that gave fans and followers a look into her ongoing inner battles. In the caption, she shared, “hi, i’m pk and i’m an alcoholic and a heroin addict.”
Her post was marking five years of being clean and sober “from all drugs and alcohol” and simply sharing how grateful she was to be in a great spot in life. “To say that i’m thankful would be a poor euphemism. gratitude hardly scratches the surface. it’s because i’m sober that i get to smile today. i get to make music. i get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat. i get to feel heartbreak in all it’s glory. i get to grieve. i get to laugh. i get to dance. i get to trust. i feel the sun on my skin and it’s warm,” she wrote.
After learning about everything she’s had to deal with throughout her life, it’s nice to think about Paris finally being in a really nice place.
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