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Mak J, Bentley A, Paphtis S, Huq M, Zimmerman C, Osrin D, Devakumar D, Abas M, Kiss L. Psychosocial interventions to improve the mental health of survivors of human trafficking: a realist review. Lancet Psychiatry 2023; 10:557-574. [PMID: 37353265 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00105-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
More than 50 million people globally are subjected to modern slavery and human trafficking. Adverse mental health consequences of extreme exploitation are prevalent and often severe. We conducted a systematic and realist review on evaluations of psychosocial interventions for survivors of human trafficking. The review aimed to identify the influence of these interventions on the mental health and wellbeing of trafficked people and examine how they worked for which survivors in which contexts. We searched eight databases (MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, PsycINFO, Global Health, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, and Cochrane) for published evaluations of psychosocial interventions for survivors of human-trafficking. We followed a realist approach to analyse the data and report on the limitations of the studies identified. We identified four mechanisms of change as being triggered by the various intervention activities: (1) awareness and understanding; (2) trust, safety, and security; (3) agency, autonomy, empowerment, and social connections; and (4) self-reflection, self-expression, and self-care. Improving mental health after traumatic events is an ongoing, nonlinear process. Intervention effectiveness and transferability would benefit from more transparent programme theories and well articulated assumptions that identify the pathways to change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joelle Mak
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Abigail Bentley
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sharli Paphtis
- Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mita Huq
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cathy Zimmerman
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Melanie Abas
- Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ligia Kiss
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
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Namy S, Namakula S, Nabachwa AG, Ollerhead M, Tsai LC, Kemitare J, Bolton K, Nkwanzi V, Carlson C. "All I was Thinking About was Shattered": Women's Experiences Transitioning Out of Anti-Trafficking Shelters During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Uganda. AFFILIA 2023; 38:278-293. [PMID: 38603358 PMCID: PMC9726634 DOI: 10.1177/08861099221137058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Human trafficking is an egregious violation of fundamental human rights and a global challenge. The long-term harms to survivors' physical, psychological and social wellbeing are profound and well documented, and yet there are few studies exploring how to best promote resilience and holistic healing. This is especially true within shelter programs (where the majority of anti-trafficking services are provided) and during the transition out of residential shelter care, which is often a sensitive and challenging process. The current study begins to address this gap by centering the lived experiences of six women residing in a trafficking-specific shelter in Uganda as they unexpectedly transitioned back to their home communities due to the COVID-19 lockdown. We explore this pivotal moment in participants' post-trafficking journey, focusing on how these women described and interpreted their rapidly changing life circumstances-including leaving the shelter, adjusting back to the community setting, and simultaneously navigating the uncertainties of a global pandemic. Four core themes emerged from the analysis: economic insecurities as a cross-cutting hardship; intensification of emotional and physical symptoms; social disruptions; and sources of hope and resilience. By centering their personal stories of struggle and strength, we hope to elevate survivors' own accounts and draw on their insights to identify actionable considerations for future programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Namy
- Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT),
Asturias, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Laura Cordisco Tsai
- Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University John F Kennedy School of
Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kelly Bolton
- School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Violet Nkwanzi
- School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Catherine Carlson
- School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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Vujanovic AA, Gordon MR, Coverdale JH, Nguyen PT. Applying Telemental Health Services for Adults Experiencing Trafficking. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:17S-22S. [PMID: 35775909 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221085243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anka A Vujanovic
- Trauma and Stress Studies Center, Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mollie R Gordon
- Anti-Human Trafficking Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John H Coverdale
- Anti-Human Trafficking Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Phuong T Nguyen
- Anti-Human Trafficking Program, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Perry EW, Osborne MC, Lee N, Kinnish K, Self-Brown SR. Posttraumatic Cognitions and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Young People Who Have Experienced Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:91S-101S. [PMID: 35775917 DOI: 10.1177/00333549211041552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The impact of posttraumatic cognitions on the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) is understudied among children and adolescents who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation/trafficking (CSE/T). The objectives of this study were to (1) explore posttraumatic cognitions among help-seeking young people aged 11-19 who have experienced CSE/T; (2) determine whether experiencing direct violence, witnessing violence, polyvictimization (ie, multiple exposures to different categories of potentially traumatic events), or demographic characteristics differentially affect whether these young people meet clinical criteria for posttraumatic cognitions using established cutoffs; and (3) explore associations between posttraumatic cognitions and PTSS among young people who have experienced CSE/T. METHODS This study is a secondary analysis of a baseline cross-sectional survey of 110 young people with substantiated CSE/T experiences who started trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (mean [SD] age = 15.8 [1.5]) from August 1, 2013, through March 31, 2020, in a southeastern US state. We used descriptive statistics, adjusted modified Poisson regression, and adjusted linear regression to test study objectives. RESULTS Fifty-seven of 110 (51.8%) young people aged 11-19 met clinical criteria for posttraumatic cognitions. Increased age and a greater number of trauma categories experienced were significantly associated with meeting clinical criteria for posttraumatic cognitions. On average, higher posttraumatic cognition scores were associated with higher PTSS scores, controlling for demographic characteristics (β = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.64-1.26). CONCLUSIONS These findings underscore the importance of assessing comprehensive trauma history and PTSS of young people who have experienced CSE/T, with added usefulness of measuring cognitive appraisals to inform a therapeutic treatment plan. Measuring cognitive appraisals that may influence PTSS and therapeutic success can ensure an effective public health response for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Perry
- 1373 School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melissa C Osborne
- 1373 Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - NaeHyung Lee
- 1373 School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Shannon R Self-Brown
- 1373 School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,1373 Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Robitz R, Asera A, Nguyen P, Gordon M, Coverdale J, Stoklosa H, Chisolm-Straker M. An Annotated Bibliography on Human Trafficking for the Mental Health Clinician. J Psychiatr Pract 2022; 28:218-226. [PMID: 35511097 DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This annotated bibliography provides an overview of sentinel and influential literature about human trafficking for general mental health practitioners. METHODS A modified participatory ranking methodology was used to create the list of articles. RESULTS We identified 25 articles relevant to trafficking and mental health which covered the topics of epidemiology, treatment, identification, policy, and research methodology. CONCLUSIONS The articles presented cover a broad range of trafficking types and topics. However, there is a dearth of literature about labor trafficking and the trafficking of men, boys, transgender, and nonbinary people.
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Trauma-informed interventions for counselling sex trafficking survivors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COUNSELLING 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10447-022-09465-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Cordisco Tsai L, Carlson C, Baylosis R, Hentschel E, Nicholson T, Eleccion J, Ubaldo J, Stanley B, Brown GK, Wainberg M. Practitioner Experiences Responding to Suicide Risk for Survivors of Human Trafficking in the Philippines. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:556-570. [PMID: 34930048 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211062858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Human trafficking survivors experience elevated suicide risk in comparison to the general population. Anti-trafficking service providers in the Philippines have identified capacity building in suicide prevention as a critical priority given the insufficient number of trained mental health professionals and lack of culturally adapted evidence-based interventions in the Philippines. We conducted a focused ethnography exploring the experiences of non-mental health professionals working in the anti-human trafficking sector in the Philippines in responding to suicidality among survivors of human trafficking (n = 20). Themes included: emotional burden on service providers, manifestations of stigma regarding suicide, lack of clarity regarding risk assessment, lack of mental health services and support systems, transferring responsibility to other providers, and the need for training, supervision, and organizational systems. We discuss implications for training service providers in the anti-human trafficking sector, as well as cultural adaptation of suicide prevention interventions with human trafficking survivors in the Philippines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cordisco Tsai
- 33574Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Carlson
- 8059University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Hentschel
- Department of Global Health and Population, 1857Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Terriann Nicholson
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 27424Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Barbara Stanley
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 27424Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory K Brown
- Perelman School of Medicine, 14640University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Milton Wainberg
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 27424Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract
Background Human trafficking is a grave human rights violation and a major public health concern. Survivors present with high rates of mental health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies of effective treatments for PTSD in survivors of human trafficking are lacking. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an effective PTSD treatment for multiple, prolonged and complex trauma, but its efficacy has not been rigorously tested in survivors of human trafficking. Aims To test the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) offering NET as a treatment for PTSD in trafficking survivors with a history of multiple traumatic events, as well as providing preliminary evidence regarding its efficacy (trial registration: ISRCTN95136302). Method A single-blind RCT compared NET with a wait-list control in survivors of trafficking with PTSD (n = 25). In the NET arm of the study, participants attended a mean of 17 sessions. Results NET was well tolerated by participants. There were significant reductions in PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms post-treatment in the NET group but no significant change in the wait-list group. Conclusions The results indicate that NET is a promising and acceptable treatment for trafficking survivors. Psychological therapy in an RCT design can be safely delivered to this vulnerable group, although modifications are required to ensure their holistic needs are properly addressed.
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Iqbal SZ, Salami T, Reissinger MC, Masood MH, Ukrani K, Shah AA. The Mental Health Clinician's Role in Advocacy for Survivors of Human Trafficking: Treatment and Management. Psychiatr Ann 2021. [DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20210707-02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Salami' T, Gordon M, Babu J, Coverdale J, Nguyen PT. Treatment considerations for foreign-born victims of human trafficking: Practical applications of an ecological framework. Transcult Psychiatry 2021; 58:293-306. [PMID: 33478354 DOI: 10.1177/1363461520983950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Foreign-born individuals immigrating to or residing in the United States are especially vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers. Being trafficked elevates the risk for a variety of physical and mental health problems; thus, victims will often come into contact with health professionals. Because there is a dearth of literature concerning the treatment of human trafficking victims, and especially foreign-born victims, we set out to describe the practical applications of a model that we use for the mental health treatment of victimization in this population. As has been suggested by leaders in the anti-human trafficking community, we employed a culturally sensitive version of Bronfrenbrenner's Ecological Systems Model to provide recommendations and educational resources for treatment at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. Our recommendations should serve to inform and improve the provision of care for foreign-born victims of human trafficking.
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Williamson E, O'Brien J, Jones L, Mitchell K, Dunford L. Featured counter-trafficking program: Love146. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 100:104131. [PMID: 31466859 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This invited article is one of several comprising part of a special issue of Child Abuse and Neglect focused on child trafficking and health. The purpose of each invited article is to describe a specific program serving trafficked children. Featuring these programs is intended to raise awareness of innovative counter-trafficking strategies emerging worldwide and facilitate collaboration on program development and outcomes research. This article describes Love146, an international human rights organization based in the United States and dedicated to ending child sex trafficking and exploitation. Love146's work began in Southeast Asia and later expanded to the United Kingdom, Liberia and Madagascar. In the United States, Love146's Survivor Care Program serves as Connecticut's primary provider of specialized services for survivors of DMST. The purpose of the current paper is to detail the successes, challenges, and lessons learned by Love146 in facilitating U.S. survivor access to services that can improve medical and mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer O'Brien
- Department of Social Work, The University of New Hampshire, United States; Crimes against Children Research Center, The University of New Hampshire, United States.
| | - Lisa Jones
- Crimes against Children Research Center, The University of New Hampshire, United States
| | - Kimberly Mitchell
- Crimes against Children Research Center, The University of New Hampshire, United States
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