Mental Slavery
Mental slavery is when you believe that you have no control over your life and no power over the thoughts in your mind. It can be in the form of people telling you what to do, how to think and what you should be like. This is a problem that is all around us, so we have to start recognizing it and taking steps to break free.
Common Forms of Mental Enslavement
There are many ways that people can become mentally enslaved, but some of the most common include:
- Being manipulated into making decisions that are detrimental to their well-being
- Being reliant on others
- Being exposed to abuse, threats, or debt bondage
These conditions can have a serious impact on the health and well-being of victims, both short and long term. Survivors often have a difficult time coping with their traumatic experiences, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent pilot initiative in the UK focused on modern slavery found that the needs of victims of slavery, including their mental health, were frequently overlooked or under-treated, even though these problems are affecting survivors at high rates.
The Importance of Mental Health in Recovery
This is a problem because, as the report explains, mental health is an essential element in helping victims recover from their trauma and build resilience to prevent re-exploitation. It is also vital to the development of a comprehensive response to modern slavery because people may have many different needs at the same time, including financial and legal issues.
Barriers to Mental Health Services
The study found that many of the victims interviewed were unable to access the services that they needed, either because they did not have enough money to get help or because the service was not available in their area. This means that their mental health needs were not being addressed, and they were at risk of re-exploitation.
Impact on Social Support Networks
Another problem that can occur is a loss of connection to social support networks as a result of their exploitation. The lack of connections to their families and communities can lead to an increase in the frequency of psychosocial problems, which can have a serious impact on a victim’s wellbeing.
Additional Challenges Faced by Victims
Some of the victims we spoke to reported that they had resorted to drug use as a way of coping with their traumatic experiences, and that they had experienced physical violence in the context of their exploitation. They also said that they had difficulty deciding whether to leave their current situation, as they were worried about what would happen if they were sent home. During our interviews, we also heard stories about people who had been forced into sex work and other labor-intensive industries as part of their trafficking or exploitation. This can be a particularly distressing experience, as sex is not something that most women and girls consider as important.
Initiatives Addressing Mental Health Needs
Despite these alarming statistics, a number of initiatives are underway to address the mental health needs of victims of modern slavery in the UK. For example, the Helen Bamber Foundation has launched a series of pilots to provide comprehensive assistance, including in-depth psychological support, to victims of trafficking across the country.
