IMPORTANCE Human trafficking and exploitation of children have profound health consequences. To our knowledge, this study represents the largest survey on the health of child and adolescent survivors of human trafficking. OBJECTIVE To describe experiences of abuse and exploitation, mental health outcomes, and suicidal behavior among children and adolescents in posttrafficking services.We also examine how exposures to violence, exploitation, and abuse affect the mental health and suicidal behavior of trafficked children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A surveywas conducted with 387 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years in posttrafficking services in Cambodia, Thailand, or Vietnam, which along with Laos, Myanmar, and Yunnan Province, China, compose the Greater Melong Subregion. Participants were interviewed within 2 weeks of entering services from October 2011 through May 2013. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-injury, and suicide attempts. RESULTS Among the 387 children and adolescent study participants, most (82%) were female. Twelve percent had tried to harm or kill themselves in the month before the interview. Fifty-six percent screened positive for depression, 33%for an anxiety disorder, and 26%for posttraumatic stress disorder. Abuse at home was reported by 20%. Physical violence while trafficked was reported by 41%of boys and 19% of girls. Twenty-three percent of girls and 1 boy reported sexual violence. Mental health symptoms were strongly associated with recent self-harm and suicide attempts. Severe physical violence was associated with depression (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.55; 95%CI, 1.64-7.71), anxiety (AOR, 2.13; 95%CI, 1.12-4.05), and suicidal ideation (AOR, 3.68; 95%CI, 1.77-7.67). Sexual violence while trafficked was associated with depression (AOR, 2.27; 95%CI, 1.22-4.23) and suicidal ideation (AOR, 3.43; 95%CI, 1.80-6.54). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Children and adolescents in posttrafficking care showed high symptom levels of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, which are strongly associated with self-harm or suicidal behaviors. Mental health screening and reintegration risk assessments are critical components of posttrafficking services, especially in planning for family reunification and other social integration options. Copyright © 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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personal experience China depression anxiety disorder multicenter study clinical trial Cambodia health survey Laos Thailand human risk assessment survivor suicide attempt violence Survivors statistics and numerical data priority journal Suicide, Attempted Health Surveys Self-Injurious Behavior physical violence Mental Disorders school child Humans psychology Adolescent male Southeast Asia female Viet Nam sexual exploitation Myanmar automutilation prevalence child sexual abuse human trafficking Article suicidal behavior major clinical study Child Abuse posttraumatic stress disorder outcome assessment sexual violence Asia, Southeastern suicidal ideation Child