Discussion: Mental Health Crises in the Context of Human Trafficking

Nearly one-third of human trafficking victims are children (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2020). Children who have been trafficked are at an increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and many other mental health crises (Office of Justice Programs, n.d.). In order to help children who have been trafficked, you must be able to recognize it when it happens. Traffickers often go to great lengths to conceal their activities; therefore, knowing the common signs of trafficking is important. If you suspect that a child is being trafficked, you are mandated to report it. When you begin working with a child who has been trafficked, it may be necessary to address pressing needs—such as housing, food, and medical care—before implementing a non-clinical intervention. 

In this Discussion, you assume the role of an HSPP and respond to one of two case studies involving mental health crises in the context of human trafficking. 

References:
Office of Justice Programs. (n.d.). Human trafficking task for e-guide. https://www.ovcttac.gov/taskforceguide/eguide/4-supporting-victims/44-comprehensive-victim-services/mental-health-needs/
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2020). Global report on trafficking in persons 2020. https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/tip/2021/GLOTiP_2020_15jan_web.pdf

To Prepare:

• Review your course announcements for possible information related to this week’s Discussion and Assignment.
• Review the case studies (Karin and Juan) in the Learning Resources and select one to focus on for this Discussion.  
• Review the Learning Resources on common mental health crises related to human trafficking. Identify the signs and symptoms of the mental health crisis the person in the case study you selected is experiencing.  
• Review the Learning Resources on interventions for responding to crises in the context of human trafficking. Think about what your initial response would be to the person in the case study you selected. Then identify one non-clinical intervention you would implement to help the person manage the crisis. Using the internet or the Walden Library, research this intervention to learn more about how you would use it in response to the person in the case study.
• Review the Learning Resources on ethical and legal issues in the context of human trafficking. Identify one ethical or legal consideration you would make when responding to the person in the case study.

By Day 4

Identify the case study you selected (Karin or Juan) in the subject line of your post. 

Post a response to the following questions: 

• What signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis is the person exhibiting?  
• What would your initial response be to the person in the case study? 
• What non-clinical intervention would you implement to help the person manage the crisis, and why? 
• What is one ethical and/or legal consideration you would make when responding, and why?