Building Better Quality Mental Health Care for Individuals and Families Impacted by Human Trafficking

Despite increasing awareness of human trafficking, our mental health system struggles to effectively meet the needs of survivors. Research has highlighted particular challenges with engagement and completion of treatment with individuals impacted by trafficking. This webinar explores these gaps and shares recommendations for trauma-informed intervention with survivors. It reviews psychological impacts of human trafficking and underscores common characteristics in situations of sex and labor trafficking that can complicate treatment. It reviews what we know about mental health treatment with survivors and offers insights, resources, and next steps for building better quality mental health care for those impacted by trafficking.

• Describe common psychological impacts of human trafficking.
• List barriers to accessing or engaging with mental health care for individuals with lived experience of trafficking.
• Identify approaches, strategies, or resources that can support the development of better quality mental health care for those impacted by trafficking.

Elizabeth Hopper, PhD