This is a massive topic, and I'm just skimming the surface for those who haven't heard the term before - if this strikes a nerve, know that there is support for you

Loosely defined, Institutional Abuse is abuse that takes place in an institution, or as supported by an institution.

It can happen to Adults with higher care needs, children with high care needs, so-called troubled teenagers who fall too far outside of social norms, or to anyone that has a lower place on the pole of privilege. Examples include a real or perceived mental health crisis, an encounter with police or even your heritage^{TW-residential.school}. Essentially, if you depend on an institution, and it abuses that trust (an employee sexually assaults you, steals your money, over-drugs you, beats you, manipulates you, etc or otherwise behaves inappropriately to the situation, such as exploiting your vulnerability) then you have encountered institutional abuse first-hand.

While this type of abuse is less acknowledged than some, there are solutions!

Awareness is obviously the first step, and then the institution at hand, in this case the banking industry, tries to make the appropriate changes. Along the way there is a rough road, as institutions tend to try to protect themselves.

Some Churches have yet to see why change is necessary and practice 'kidnap for Christ'. Others, such as the Catholic Church are starting to be forced open.

Others are still at the 'whistleblower' stage of openness.

But there are glimmers of hope! Mental health advocacy for example, has done a stunning amount of work in the past few decades, as some facilities close allowing for more open programming. Police too, are starting to be held accountable. Sometimes it just takes an eleven-year court case.

There are some resources sprinkled about this post. If you need ones more specific to you, they are available. Feel free to ask in the comments or shoot me a PM.