Psychiatric Services
Volume 68, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 207-210

Self-harm among adult victims of human trafficking who accessed secondary mental health services in England (Article) (Open Access)

Borschmann R. , Oram S. , Kinner S.A. , Dutta R. , Zimmerman C. , Howard L.M.
  • a Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
  • b Department of Health Service and Population Research, Australia
  • c Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  • d Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, United Kingdom
  • e Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • f Department of Health Service and Population Research, Australia

Abstract

Objective: This study estimated the prevalence and correlates of self-harm among adult victims of human trafficking who accessed secondary mental health services, and it estimated the responses of mental health services to these individuals. Methods: A clinical records database was searched for self-harm, sociodemographic, clinical, and service use characteristics among trafficked adults who accessed secondary mental health services in South London (2006-2012). Logistic regression models compared trafficked patients (N584) and a matched cohort of nontrafficked patients (N5287). Results: Among trafficked patients, 33% had engaged in selfharm prior to care and 25% in self-harm during care. After engaging in self-harm, trafficked patients were more likely than nontrafficked patients to be admitted as a psychiatric inpatient (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]52.81) but less likely to visit an emergency department (AOR5.47). Conclusions: Self-harm is prevalent among trafficked adults accessing secondary mental health services, and mental health professionals have a crucial role to play in supporting survivors.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Nigeria mood disorder China mental health service schizophrenia secondary care mental health human middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study intoxication Self-Injurious Behavior emergency ward Mental Health Services Uganda sex trafficking Young Adult Humans Adolescent male England female adjustment disorder sexual exploitation automutilation human trafficking Article major clinical study adult health care access posttraumatic stress disorder distress syndrome hallucination cohort analysis crime victim secondary health care hanging
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014085567&doi=10.1176%2fappi.ps.201500509&partnerID=40&md5=21a10b6b485a64169870e2f92ed0e76c
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500509
ISSN: 10752730
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English