Working with Survivors of Modern-Day Slavery: Cross-Cultural Competence and Considerations for Mental Health Service Providers

Human trafficking in all its manifestations is recognized as a global problem and one that has reached epidemic proportions. While exact numbers of victims and survivors are difficult to ascertain, estimates from the International Labor Organization (ILO, Forced labor, modern slavery and human trafficking, 2022) indicate 40.3 million in 2017 and 49.6 million trafficked in 2021. Victims do not come from one place or a homogeneous background; they represent many diverse cultures. With such large numbers of those being victimized, we can expect to work with trafficking victims and survivors from all over. As we know, those who are trafficked often face various medical and physical consequences because of what they have experienced. While the treatment of individuals for medical and physical issues is often similar, regardless of differences in their culture and country of origin, the same cannot be said for working with those in need of mental health services. It is crucial that those who provide mental health services to survivors of modern-day slavery do so in a culturally competent manner. This chapter provides information related to what providers need to know when working with trafficked individuals from various cultural backgrounds to provide them with culturally competent mental health services. The terms patient and client are used interchangeably below as different disciplines use different terms for the people to whom they provide service.