How To Support Sex Trafficking Victims
Healthcare workers support sex trafficking victims by giving them the appropriate medical and psychological care vital for their recovery. They should also provide a safe environment for the victims where they feel safe and comfortable.
This guide will give you the information you need to support sex trafficking victims, including identifying signs of trafficking, what trauma-informed care is, and how to create a safe environment for victims. You will also learn the appropriate way to approach victims of sex trafficking and how to address their mental and physical needs.
Providers of healthcare will be able to empower victims and help them in gaining access to the services they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
What’s In The Article?
The Prevalence Of Sex Trafficking
Identifying Victims Of Sex Trafficking
How To Properly Approach Sex Trafficking Victims
Support Sex trafficking Victims’ Mental Health Needs
Support Sex Trafficking Victims’ Physical Health Needs
Other Health Issues Related To Sex Trafficking Victims
Final Thoughts
The Prevalence Of Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is a serious crime that occurs all over the world. Victims can be male or female, adults or children, and of any ethnicity. While many mistakenly believe that sex trafficking only occurs in developing countries, this couldn't be further from the truth.
According to
Identifying Victims Of Sex Trafficking
Healthcare workers should know the
Someone who doesn't appear to be free to leave a situation or can't get away from it. If a woman has a pimp, he may keep her under his control through violence and threats of violence. She might not have access to money or resources for herself, like credit cards or cell phones.
Someone with bruises on their body or who appears to be afraid of the people around them might have been forced into doing something they don't want to do.
How To Properly Approach Sex Trafficking Victims
Listening to them
Acknowledging their experience
Being nonjudgmental and patient and repeating themselves as needed
Being supportive, including helping them access food, housing, clothing, or other services they may need to feel safe and healthy again
Be Non-Judgmental
It is a critical component of helping survivors of human trafficking since many victims have spent their lives being judged and blamed for the crimes committed against them.
Many victims of human trafficking feel guilty or ashamed about what has happened to them, or they may believe that they deserve to be treated this way because of some other behavior on their part. It is critical not to label these feelings and experiences as "bad" or "wrong" when speaking with survivors in therapy or group counseling sessions working through trauma recovery.
Listen And Understand
To support sex trafficking victims, you must first listen to and understand their stories. As a healthcare professional, you should listen to the patient's story and understand their point of view. Listening takes patience and time, which can be difficult for some people, but these are essential when helping victims who have been traumatized by the experience.
It is also critical to refrain from interrupting or making assumptions about what the patient is experiencing. If you don't understand what they're feeling or going through, ask questions instead of making assumptions.
You may believe you are helpful by offering advice or attempting to solve the problem, but they may feel even worse if they think others do not believe them or understand what they have gone through because it has happened so frequently.
Acknowledge The Trauma
Acknowledging the trauma helps the victim feel safe, understood, heard, and validated. They may be embarrassed or ashamed of what happened to them, and they may even blame themselves. It can also help them understand that their feelings are normal and there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Victims of sex trafficking frequently have low self-esteem and may feel worthless due to their experiences with traffickers or abusers. Acknowledging their traumatic experiences encourages them to see themselves as strong survivors rather than victims helpless to protect themselves from harm at the hands of others.
Support Sex trafficking Victims’ Mental Health Needs
Survivors of sex trafficking can experience serious mental health challenges that must be addressed to help them maintain and build their path to recovery. Healthcare providers must know
Psychological Effects Of Sex Trafficking
Survivors have frequently suffered severe trauma, such as physical and sexual abuse, abandonment, a lack of food, shelter, or clean water, and a loss of self-worth. Survivors may also have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety due to these experiences.
Many people who are trafficked suffer from long-term mental health issues. This is especially true if they do not seek treatment early in their recovery. We must provide resources in our communities so that all victims can find safe places to heal physically and mentally.
The list below includes some of the most common mental health issues seen in survivors.
They have intensely painful memories of the trauma they went through, including flashbacks, nightmares, and strong emotions (known as re-experiencing symptoms)
Intense fear related to what happened to them during their exploitation (known as anxiety)
Emotional numbing, depression, and difficulty feeling positive about things in their lives (known as negative thoughts)
Trauma-informed Care For Sex Trafficking Victims
Another way to support sex trafficking victims is by implementing trauma-informed care in your practice settings.
One step toward becoming trauma-informed is to have clinicians who are well-versed in how trauma affects people's behaviors and responses when they come into contact with medical staff members. Another step would be to offer therapy sessions where survivors can receive support from others who understand their experiences.
Healthcare professionals should remember that trauma-informed care prioritizes the patient's feelings and needs. This includes asking open-ended questions, being aware of your feelings and reactions, knowing your biases, and working to understand how they may affect your interaction with patients. You should also remember that trauma is a normal reaction to abnormal events and should focus on the recovery process rather than trying to fix what happened in the past.
The Importance Of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care can help sex trafficking victims receive the medical attention they need. Victims can feel comfortable sharing their experiences with healthcare providers. They will be able to receive the help they need without fear of being judged or ridiculed for what happened in the past with trauma-informed care.
To support sex trafficking victims who require counseling, counselors should understand how trauma can affect both them and their clients. Counselors should be trained to recognize symptoms of psychological distress. This will give them a better understanding of what is happening with their clients, allowing them to provide more effective services.
Support Sex Trafficking Victims’ Physical Health Needs
Healthcare professionals are responsible for supporting sex trafficking victims’ medical and physical needs. This includes adhering to appropriate safety procedures, creating a safe environment for patients, and providing adequate medical follow-up care for survivors' needs.
Physical Signs Of Sex Trafficking
Healthcare providers should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of sex trafficking to provide vital medical attention to survivors, which include the following:
Physical injuries, such as bruises or cuts
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) symptoms include vaginal or anal bleeding, rusty discharge from the genitals or rectum, sores near the genitals or rectum, and genital warts on the penis or around the anus.
cigarette burns on arms and legs; scars from electrical cords; needle marks from drug injections; broken bones; black eyes
Providing A Safe Environment For Sex Trafficking Victims
Listening to the patient is the first step in creating a safe environment. The second is to be compassionate and nonjudgmental. Remember that the victim of sex trafficking has been through a lot, and they may not trust you immediately. A trauma-informed approach will develop trust and encourage your patients to share their stories. Here are some ideas for creating a safe space for victims of sex trafficking:
Only touch the patient if they have given their permission.
Do not ask the patient to undress without their permission.
Do not use physical force to restrain the patient.
Do not take their photos without their permission; if you must, do so with care and consideration for privacy and safety concerns.
When providing a safe environment for sex trafficking victims, the patient must be in control of their situation. Giving them the freedom to decide how they will be treated, who they will see, how they will be treated, where they receive care, or when you can see them can help them restore their sense of control.
Many victims of human trafficking are hesitant to provide information to authorities for fear of being arrested or deported. This reluctance is particularly common in countries where people are afraid of being prosecuted for immigration violations.
Some patients may also be hesitant to disclose information because they do not trust law enforcement and do not want to get their families into trouble.
To overcome these obstacles, healthcare professionals must create an environment where patients feel safe and comfortable sharing information.
Adequate Medical Follow-Up Care
Healthcare professionals should be aware of the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and provide follow-up care to ensure that patients are properly screened and treated. One of the most common complaints among sex trafficking survivors is a lack of access to adequate medical care. Many former victims, for example, report being denied medication for diabetes or other chronic health conditions while in captivity because traffickers did not want them to be sick or unable to work.
As a result, healthcare providers and officials should provide adequate follow-up care after release from captivity, such as annual gynecological visits and physical exams.
To support sex trafficking victims’ medical care, healthcare providers must also be aware of other physical health issues that survivors face. It can include vaginal tearing caused by sexual violence during abduction or forced prostitution, which can lead to painful infections if not treated properly.
Furthermore, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, or chronic fatigue syndrome. When treating patients with trauma histories, such as those who have survived sex trafficking, healthcare practitioners must consider both their physical and mental health. It involves addressing psychological and physical issues so that all aspects are addressed simultaneously rather than separately.
Other Health Issues Related To Sex Trafficking Victims
Traumatic events cause changes in immune function, leading to hyper-reactivity to stressors, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.
The body's reaction to trauma is similar to that of a virus-infected person. In fact, the body may be more responsive to something traumatic, such as an assault, than it is to a virus or bacteria.
Trauma profoundly affects the areas of the brain responsible for memory and emotion. According to some research, cortisol and adrenaline levels rise after abuse. These hormones influence how we remember what happened during our trauma experiences.
Final Thoughts
Sex trafficking is a serious problem that must be addressed. People frequently underestimate its prevalence, making them feel helpless when they learn about it. However, by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of sex trafficking, we can help to prevent this heinous crime from occurring in our communities.
Healthcare professionals are in a unique position to support sex trafficking victims. They can be the first responders, identify survivors and refer them to other resources.
Healthcare professionals can also support sex trafficking victims and help them reclaim their sense of self by providing access to therapy and counseling that will enable them to regain confidence and move on with their lives without being haunted by traumatic memories.