As part of its program aimed at supporting the mental health of sex workers, The European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA) has published their new briefing paper on Sex Work and Mental Health and conducted an online petition “Support sex workers’ mental health” to support access to mental health services for sex workers.
“I want all human beings to be treated with respect and dignity whenever their work is and how they work.” – states in the petition which also highlights some of the problems that sex workers face in accessing the health services they need, especially services related to their mental health:
- A major obstacle to accessing appropriate mental healthcare for sex workers is the lack of knowledge and the stigma surrounding sex work among mental healthcare professionals.
- 55% of the respondents of our survey classified both lack of knowledge and stigma as factors impacting access to mental healthcare to a very great extent.
- In fact, mental health care professionals’ lack of knowledge about sex work and their preconceptions against sex workers are the main obstacle faced by sex workers in accessing quality mental health care. This is combined with professionals’ insufficient knowledge and preconceptions about other issues that concern many sex workers, such as gender identity, sexual orientation, race and cultural differences, and the use of substances.
- Sex workers are additionally burdened by more general barriers to accessing affordable mental health care. In some European countries, a shortage of accredited mental healthcare professionals causes long waiting lists for patients and requires excessive paperwork, deterring many from looking for help.
Support sex workers’ mental health by signing the petition on the following link: