Identifying Gaps in Human Trafficking Mental Health Service Provision

Authors: Powell, Clydette; Asbill, Michelle; Louis, Elizabeth & Stoklosa, Hanni

Abstract: Human trafficking is a global concern resulting in complex, long-lasting mental health consequences for survivors. The U.S. nongovernmental sector has emerged as a key service provider in facilitating and directly providing comprehensive services for survivors, including crucial mental health services. This study aimed to better understand barriers to and potential improvements for human trafficking survivor mental health service delivery by applying a deductive framework analysis to semi-structured interviews with 15 U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations. Analysis of interview data underscored key challenges, including extensive and complex human trafficking survivor mental health needs, limited service provider capacity, and a fragmented multisector response. Themes for strategies to improve mental health service delivery included improved multisector collaboration as well as increasing mental health professional capacity through human trafficking–specific training. Implications and recommendations to improve comprehensive, trauma-informed, and client-centered human trafficking survivor care, including future research directions, are discussed.

Keywords: health, health services, human trafficking, mental health, trauma-informed care