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Psychological Effects Of Sex Trafficking

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Sex trafficking is often overlooked in today’s society. Many people probably do not know what it is or have never heard of it. Unfortunately it occurs in this world. The trade of girls used for sexual pleasure is not just a local problem, it is a worldwide problem. Even with all of the new laws, punishing those who participate or use girls to make money, sex trafficking is still on the rise. People coerce girls into doing something they do not want to do everyday. In Sold, Lakshmi is a happy little girl forced into working to help support her family. Once she gets to the Happiness House, her whole life is turned upside down. Not only is she physically harmed, but mentally as well. The psychological harm she endures will last forever. Lakshmi’s mental health is seriously impacted while at the Happiness House. The vast majority of her time at the Happiness House, consisted of her being beaten, raped, starved, and even …show more content…

Victims of sex trafficking need better access to mental health treatment. In a study conducted by The Lancet Global Health, “ More than sixty people in the study showed signs of depression. Nearly forty percent reportedly had anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.” (Sam P.K. Collins) The victims of sex trafficking usually have a fragile state of mind, due to the fact they have no control over their lives. Sold states, “You will take men to your room...And do whatever they ask of you. You will work here, like the other girls, until your debt is paid off.”(106) In the National Institutes of Health Reviews of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sex Trafficking of Women and Girls states, “ In one study, providers reported that sex-trafficked women were less stable, more isolated, had higher levels of fear, more severe trauma, and greater mental health needs than other victims of crime.” (Neha A Deshpande, BA and Nawal M Nour, MD,

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