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Human trafficking survivors experience elevated suicide risk in comparison to the general population. Anti-trafficking service providers in the Philippines have identified capacity building in suicide prevention as a critical priority given the insufficient number of trained mental health professionals and lack of culturally adapted evidence-based interventions in the Philippines. We conducted a focused ethnography exploring the experiences of non-mental health professionals working in the anti-human trafficking sector in the Philippines in responding to suicidality among survivors of human trafficking (n = 20). Themes included: emotional burden on service providers, manifestations of stigma regarding suicide, lack of clarity regarding risk assessment, lack of mental health services and support systems, transferring responsibility to other providers, and the need for training, supervision, and organizational systems. We discuss implications for training service providers in the anti-human trafficking sector, as well as cultural adaptation of suicide prevention interventions with human trafficking survivors in the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelter programs are a core component of the service delivery system for youth who have experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Southeast Asia. Limited research, however, exists regarding trafficking-specific shelter-based services. Research and programming in the anti-human trafficking sector has focused heavily on women and girls. The experiences and service needs of boys and men have been understudied. This manuscript explores the perspectives of boys who were identified by service providers as having experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation on their experiences in shelter programs in Cambodia. We analyzed 81 interviews and narrative summaries of interviews conducted between 2011 and 2016, drawing from a 10-year longitudinal study with survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation (n = 22). An interpretive phenomenological approach was utilized. Six themes were identified: appreciation for education and provision for basic needs; importance of consistent caregiving and emotional support; lacking freedom and feeling trapped by rules; violence in the shelter; staff difficulties managing boys' behavior and responding to violence; and the impact of financial resources on shelter experiences. Findings reinforce the need to listen to boys about their experiences in services and provide guidance in strengthening shelter-based programming for trafficked and exploited boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the perspectives of Cambodian boys who have experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation on their experiences transitioning out of shelters and re‐entering the community. We used an interpretive phenomenological approach to analyse 81 interviews and narrative summaries of interviews drawn from Chab Dai's 10‐year longitudinal study with survivors in Cambodia (n = 22). Themes included: minimal involvement in planning for re/integration; conflicted feelings about life in the community; challenges completing school and securing employment; importance of community‐based services; unfulfilled expectations; violence in the community; and a desire to return to the shelter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking is a significant human rights issue confronting social workers, and yet rigorous research on human trafficking remains limited, particularly in the social work field. Numerous ethical and methodological challenges arise when researching human trafficking. Few studies have, however, examined the process of conducting research with trafficked persons. This study explored the process of conducting research with survivors of sex trafficking and their family members, focusing on relational dynamics that emerged in interviewers' relationships with survivors. Findings were taken from a six-month financial diaries study that was conducted with survivors of sex trafficking and their family members in the Philippines, involving 352 interviews with survivors and family members. Field observations detailing the interviewers' interactions with research participants during the financial diaries were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified in the analysis: the trust-building process, multi-layered relationships and managing expectations, situational responsiveness and the emotional impact of the research process. Recommendations for conducting research with trafficked persons are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]