The Looming Economic Downturn: A Threat to Low to Medium Income Families and Vulnerability to Human Trafficking

Introduction: As the global economy faces the uncertainties of a potential economic downturn, it is crucial to consider the impact it may have on low to medium income families and their vulnerability to exploitation, particularly human trafficking. Throughout history, poverty has played a significant role in creating illicit markets fueled by desperation, such as drug and sex trades. In this blog post, we will delve into the potential consequences of an economic downturn on vulnerable families and discuss proactive steps individuals can take to mitigate the risk of becoming victims of human trafficking, as well as ways to navigate the challenges brought about by a recession. Regardless of your current situation we want you to know that Mission 991, Inc. stands by you and we are here to help in anyway we can as we all prepare for the times ahead and strive to eliminate human trafficking in all of its forms.

Understanding the Link between Economic Downturns and Vulnerability: During times of economic hardship, low to medium income families often face heightened financial stress, job loss, and limited access to resources. These circumstances can increase their vulnerability to human trafficking and exploitation. Desperation to provide for their families may lead individuals to take risks they wouldn't consider under normal circumstances, making them susceptible to the deceptive promises and coercion of traffickers.

Impact on Low to Medium Income Families:

• Unemployment and Underemployment: Economic downturns typically result in job losses and reduced employment opportunities, leading to increased financial strain on families. This can push individuals into seeking alternative means of income, making them more susceptible to exploitation.

• Financial Instability: Reduced income and increased financial burdens can lead to housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of access to essential services. These factors further exacerbate the vulnerability of families, making them more susceptible to traffickers' manipulation.

• Mental Health Challenges: Economic recessions are often accompanied by a rise in stress, anxiety, and mental health issues. These challenges can impair judgment and decision-making abilities, making individuals more vulnerable to falling prey to traffickers' deceptive tactics.

  Steps to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Human Trafficking:

• Education and Awareness: Increasing awareness about the tactics employed by traffickers is crucial. Promote community-wide education programs, workshops, and campaigns to equip individuals, particularly youth, with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and avoid potential exploitation.

• Strengthen Support Systems: Building strong support networks within communities can provide a safety net during challenging times. Encouraging open dialogue, fostering relationships, and connecting individuals to local resources can help mitigate vulnerabilities and prevent exploitation.

• Enhance Financial Literacy: Empowering individuals with financial literacy skills can help them make informed decisions during economic hardships. This includes budgeting, saving, and accessing legitimate financial resources, thereby reducing the likelihood of falling prey to exploitative offers.

  Navigating the Challenges of a Recession:

• Seek Assistance and Resources: Familiarize yourself with local organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies that offer support to individuals and families facing economic difficulties. These organizations can provide assistance with housing, food, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

• Skill Development and Education: During economic downturns, investing in skill development and education can improve job prospects and increase resilience. Explore vocational training programs, online courses, or educational opportunities that align with your interests and potential career paths.

• Prioritize Mental Health: Take care of your mental and emotional well-being. Reach out to mental health professionals, seek support from friends and family, and engage in self-care practices to maintain emotional resilience during difficult times.

Prioritize Mental Health: Take care of your mental and emotional well-being. Reach out to mental health professionals, seek support from friends and family, and engage in self-care practices to maintain emotional resilience during difficult times.

Conclusion: As we anticipate the potential economic downturn, it is crucial to recognize its potential impact on low to medium income families and their vulnerability to exploitation, including human trafficking. By understanding the risks, raising awareness, and implementing proactive measures, we can strive to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly youth, from falling victim to human trafficking. By fostering strong support networks, enhancing financial independence. Reach out to Mission 991, Inc. if you are in need of support in your local area by email at mission991@mission991.org or on Facebook today.

Shame and Guilt, a Look at a Trafficker’s Toolkit

I want to start off 2023 by focusing on our mission and what I believe is one of the critical aspects to the trafficking and exploitation game.  Shame and guilt are normal parts of the human experience that we all struggle with from birth through death and to be honest it is a daily battle for me as well.  A large part of what I will address today is in the context of our vulnerable youth, but I want to be clear that I have yet to meet a person on this planet that does not struggle in silent anguish over something they can’t bear to drag into the light without help.  It is my deepest prayer and hope that as you read through this blog you will keep in mind where your help might be needed today, and where your sources of help and hope might lie so that you can let down some of your burdens as well.

“If you put shame in a Petri dish, it needs three things to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence and judgement. If you put the same amount of shame in a Petri dish and douse it with empathy, it cant survive” says Dr. Brene Brown

Shame and guilt can be extremely powerful emotions, especially for isolated teens. Depending on family, cultural and environmental factors these demons can take on wildly different aspects from one person to another. When teens feel isolated, they may not have the support or awareness of friends and family to help them cope with these negative emotions. This can be especially true for young men who are told in most societies that it is more manly to bottle these emotions up rather than show weakness. To be blunt, some very real places exist in the world where a young man dropping his guard can be physically and financially lethal.  This can lead to serious consequences, including depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.

Shame is an emotion that is often related to feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness. It can be triggered by a specific event or a pattern of behavior, and it can be extremely difficult for teens to shake. When teens feel ashamed, they may feel like they are not good enough or that they do not deserve to be happy. This can lead to low self-esteem, which can make it difficult for them to build healthy relationships and achieve their goals.  The lack of meaningful progress to those goals only reinforces the feeling of inadequacy.

Shame is one of traffickers' primary means of isolating potential victims during the grooming process. This can take on several variations of the same play book depending on the victims perceived needs. If a victim displays a feeling of inadequate affirmation from a father figure that is how a trafficker will approach them. If they are a young man lacking love and affection while being rejected by women in their day to day lives, the trafficker may appear to be a young adoring girl showing interest in them and their goals. If it is a trans or homosexual youth seeking acceptance, that again is the community they will emulate.  This tactic is used effectively in Sextortion scams where a teen is led to believe they are in a serious online relationship, often without a parent's knowledge. When things progress to sharing compromising photographs the traffickers can then turn that around on the victim extorting money or sexual acts in order to avoid exposure of their “shameful” pictures. 

For a clear example of how quickly these Sextortion scams can get out of hand follow the YouTube link below to hear the heartbreaking story of a Michigan teenager who had everything going for him on the surface of things. Deep down and hidden from those who could intervene he was waging a devastating battle with guilt and shame that tragically took his life. Understand that his story is not an isolated event! 

Guilt is another negative emotion that can be harmful to isolated teens. It is the feeling of remorse or regret that occurs when someone believes they have done something wrong. Like shame, guilt can be triggered by a specific event or pattern of behavior. However, guilt is often more focused on the specific action that was taken, rather than the person's overall worth as a human being.  This can be difficult for some well intentioned people to understand outside of that teens cultural and environmental lens. For instance a teen from a devout Catholic family may carry tremendous guilt over something a teen from a Buddhist family might laugh off, or the opposite may be true. 

Both shame and guilt can be especially harmful to isolated teens and adults who have a perceived or real lack of support. I say perceived because often teens and young adults lack the experience to know that we all struggle and they’re struggles are not unique in the human experience. Isolated teens may feel like they have no one to talk to about their feelings, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. This can be reinforced by the voices in a teens life. 

Jim Rohn famously wrote: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”  This is where parents and the community have to be actively involved in a teens life to identify those voices. In 2023 it is imperative to come to terms with the fact that these voices can come from online chat groups, podcasts, shows, news anchors, and more traditionally from books etc. 

Following a disagreement over chat group restrictions with my teen I explained it in a broader way for them to understand. I asked them: “Would you expect me as your father to drop you off in a busy bus station surrounded by 50 or so complete strangers. Some of them responsible, some high on drugs, some drunk, some with violent records, and some known predators. All with just as colorful educations, illnesses and religious ideologies?”  It took them a minute to painfully admit that was not what I would allow nor what they would actually feel safe with. “That’s not fair!”.. How many times have we heard that one parents?  The problem is with our perspective on what we see as a threat. 

We are conditioned over millions of years to perceive threats with our acute hearing, taste, smell and feel. If it’s too hot it’s dangerous. If it’s too menacing it’s not ok. So when our kids plug in and for the first time in hours the house is quiet we mistakenly think everything is ok. It’s not!  Your child is sitting in a room surrounded by complete strangers and if they like what the stranger has to say it’s a click of a button to be notified next time they are available to chat. 

The threat would arguably be less of a danger if the law of randomness was allowed to play out but that is eliminated through the use of social media follows, AI bots and push notifications. In extreme cases this shame and guilt can go unnoticed to the point of suicidal thoughts. Oh and by the way there’s a group with open arms online for when you or your teen starts searching suicidal content. I wouldn’t be surprised if my social media feeds explore the topic for me since I’m typing this into a device that is currently monitoring me legally through those neat but tedious user agreements. It’s just the world we live in and we need to start seeing it for the threat it is or our communities and our values will wither to extinction.

It is important for parents, caregivers, and other adults to be aware of the dangers of shame and guilt in isolated teens. If you notice that a teen or young adult in your life is struggling with these emotions, it is important to reach out and offer support. This can be as simple as having a conversation about their feelings or offering to help them find resources for coping with these emotions. By showing isolated teens that they are not alone and that they are loved and supported, we can help them navigate the challenges of adolescence and build healthy, fulfilling lives.

This fulfillment can come from many healing channels but they must address purpose, safety and community. Some parents need to get more involved. Some parents need to come to terms with the fact that as their teens mature they will have some things they would rather share with peers. This is where a healthy and robust community comes in and is sorely lacking in our digital and isolated age. 

This can only scratch the surface of the deep rooted challenges our young adults and youth face in the digital world where predators and marketing campaigns alike are persistently attacking their freewill.  I hope it starts the conversation for some and if you are in need of further resources reach out to Mission 991, Inc. and we will be happy to get you started on the road to emotional freedom.