Mental Health and Sex Trafficking

Mental health struggles affect a large percentage of the population. In 2015 among Ontario adults: (mentalhealth.org)
  • 26% reported moderate to serious psychological distress
  • 10% reported frequent mental distress (14 or more days) in the past 30 days
  • 10% reported using prescribed anti-anxiety medication
  • 9% reported using prescribed antidepressants
These mental health struggles can also put a person at a higher risk of being targeted by a trafficker. In order to effectively fight sex trafficking in these demographics, it is important to understand these risks in order to combat them.
Mental health struggles create many challenges such as
  • Isolation
  • Diminished capacity to offer informed consent
  • Limited ability to assess risk
  • Limited ability to detect ill intentions
Traffickers are skilled at detecting and manipulating these sorts of vulnerabilities. (Gov.BC)
A study of women who had been trafficked in Moldova found that childhood sexual abuse, longer duration of trafficking, and post-trafficking stressors such as poor social support and unmet needs were indicators that predicted mental health conditions for individuals who exited situations of trafficking (Bas, Ostrovschi)
  • 79.2% of women reported childhood abuse
  • 30.8% reported reported sexual abuse
  • 65.8% reported physical abuse
  • 71.7% reported emotional abuse
Those who support individuals who have been trafficked are at a greater risk of developing mental health conditions such as:
  • Vicarious/secondary trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
This can be due to the stress of support through a time of crisis or hardship as well as the emotional strain of empathizing with a person you love.
MOST COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR TRAFFICKED PERSONS
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PSTD)
PTSD is a natural emotional response to cope with stressful and frightening events where there was real or threatened harm to oneself or others. However, when PTSD becomes long-term and persistent, it may interfere with everyday activities and routines. (CAMH)
Symptoms include: (AADA.org)
  • Flashbacks/nightmares
  • Emotional apathy
  • Difficulty sleeping/concentrating
ANXIETY
Anxiety becomes a disorder when symptoms of anxiety become severe and persistent to the point of interfering with one's ability to work, study, socialize, or manage daily tasks.
Symptoms include ongoing: (CAMH)
  • Irrational/excessive fear
  • Apprehensive/tense feelings
  • Difficulty managing tasks and/or fear surrounding tasks
DEPRESSION
Clinical depression, sometimes called major depression, is a complex mood disorder caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition, personality, stress and brain chemistry. (CAMH)
Symptoms include a persistently sad and despairing mood that:
  • is present most days and lasts most of the day
  • lasts for more than two weeks at a time
  • impairs performance in work, school, and sociability
SUICIDAL IDEATION
Any combination of mental health struggles may cause a person to experience suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts. Often, suicidal ideation is associated with feelings of guilt and shame. (jamanetworkcom)
Symptoms include:
  • Preoccupation with death
  • Engaging in risky/harmful behaviours
  • Sudden changes in social habits (mayoclinic.org)
These mental health conditions are common in trafficked persons because of the persistent fear tactics, abuse, and uncertainty that traffickers may use to traffic people.
THE ROLE OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE

Resources

Center for Addiction and Mental Health
Mental health training course
Addiction, Mental Health, and Gambling Services
Illicit Drugs Abuse and Treatment
mental_health_promotion_guideline_2018.pdf
File Size: 700 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

References

1. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/better-mental-health-all-public-health-approach-mental-health-improvement
2. Gov, BC
3. Bas, M., Ostrovschi, N.V., Prince, M. et al, 2013
4. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/posttraumatic-stress-disorder
5. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/anxiety-disorders
6. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/symptoms
7. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/depression
8.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2430958
9. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/symptoms-causes/syc-20378048