05/27/2026
Mental health isn’t just impacted by human trafficking, it can be a risk factor for it.
Research shows that poor mental health may increase vulnerability to trafficking, due to factors such as reduced decision-making capacity or understanding and increased dependence on others.
"Although traumatic experiences while being trafficked may induce or exacerbate mental disorders, poor mental health may also increase vulnerability to trafficking, due to factors directly associated with poor mental health, such as reduced decision-making capacity or understanding and increased dependence on others." (The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2017)