Among 896 Mexican immigrants using VDS-UMS programs in the US, interpersonal violence victimization was associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use, which, along with depressive symptoms, were associated with self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, supporting integrated screening and treatment for violence exposure, substance use, and mental health symptoms.
Interpersonal violence victimization (IVV) was associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and with substance use in Mexican immigrants served by VDS-UMS.
Substance use and depressive symptoms were associated with self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The associations among IVV, posttraumatic stress, substance use, depressive symptoms, and self-harm/suicidal thoughts and behaviors were consistent across sex and treatment-seeking groups.
Substance use contributed more strongly to the model among men than women.
Posttraumatic stress symptoms contributed more strongly to the model among participants seeking mental health treatment.
The authors conclude that integrated screening and early intervention for IVV and substance use within existing binational community mental health programs may reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
This study looked at 896 Mexican immigrants in the United States who used community health programs called Ventanillas de Salud and Mobile Health Units. Most participants were women (72%), and about 71% were seeking mental health treatment. The researchers examined how experiences of interpersonal violence relate to mental health symptoms, substance use, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The results suggest that people who had experienced interpersonal violence were more likely to report posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use. In turn, substance use and depressive symptoms were linked to self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The overall pattern was similar for men and women and for people who were and were not seeking treatment. Substance use played a bigger role among men, and posttraumatic stress symptoms played a bigger role among those seeking treatment. This research suggests that programs serving Mexican immigrants may benefit from screening for violence exposure, substance use, and mental health symptoms together rather than separately. Because the study is cross-sectional, it shows associations at one point in time and cannot prove that one factor causes another.
Morales-Chainé S, López-Fuentes A, Duarte-Martínez G, Lira-Chávez I, Bacigalupe G, Robles-García R, et al.. (2026). Interpersonal violence and substance use: mental health and self-harm/suicide among Mexicans in VDS-UMS in the United States.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1975732