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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

Interpersonal violence and substance use: mental health and self-harm/suicide among Mexicans in VDS-UMS in the United States

  • Silvia Morales-Chainé1
  • Alma Luisa López-Fuentes1
  • Gisell Atziri Duarte-Martínez1
  • Isaura Angélica Lira-Chávez2
  • Gonzalo Bacigalupe3
  • Rebeca Robles-García4
  • María Elena Medina Mora1,4
  • María Gudelia Rangel-Gómez2
4 affiliations
  1. 1Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  2. 2United States-Mexico Border Health Commission (Mexican Section)
  3. 3Department of Counseling, School Psychology, and Sport, College of Education and Human Development, University of Massachusetts Boston
  4. 4Centro de Investigación en Salud Mental Global INPRFM-UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz
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Abstract

Background: Interpersonal violence victimization (IVV) is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including substance use, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study examined the relationships among these conditions in Mexican immigrants living in the United States, stratified by sex and mental health treatment-seeking status.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 896 Mexican immigrants residing in the United States. Participants were predominantly women (72%), and 71% were seeking mental health treatment. Structural equation models were estimated for the overall sample and separately by sex and treatment-seeking status.

Results: IVV was associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use. Substance use and depressive symptoms were, in turn, associated with self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These associations were consistent across sex and treatment-seeking groups. Substance use contributed more strongly to the model among men, whereas posttraumatic stress symptoms contributed more strongly among participants seeking mental health treatment.

Conclusion: Mexican immigrants visiting the Ventanillas de Salud and Mobile Health Units (VDS-UMS) reported psychoactive substance use associated with interpersonal violence victimization and self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, whereas depressive symptoms were independently related to suicide risk. These findings support integrated screening and treatment strategies addressing violence exposure, substance use, and mental health symptoms among Mexican immigrants served through these programs in the United States, all within the context of stressors that interact with vulnerability associated with migration.

Clinical implications: Integrating screening and early intervention for interpersonal violence victimization and substance use within existing binational community mental health programs may reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors among Mexican immigrants.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{moraleschaine2026interpersonal,
  title = {{Interpersonal violence and substance use: mental health and self-harm/suicide among Mexicans in VDS-UMS in the United States}},
  author = {Silvia Morales-Chainé and Alma Luisa López-Fuentes and Gisell Atziri Duarte-Martínez and Isaura Angélica Lira-Chávez and Gonzalo Bacigalupe and Rebeca Robles-García and María Elena Medina Mora and María Gudelia Rangel-Gómez},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1975732},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1975732/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Interpersonal violence and substance use: mental health and self-harm/suicide among Mexicans in VDS-UMS in the United States
AU  - Silvia Morales-Chainé
AU  - Alma Luisa López-Fuentes
AU  - Gisell Atziri Duarte-Martínez
AU  - Isaura Angélica Lira-Chávez
AU  - Gonzalo Bacigalupe
AU  - Rebeca Robles-García
AU  - María Elena Medina Mora
AU  - María Gudelia Rangel-Gómez
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/08
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1975732
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1975732/full
AB  - Background: Interpersonal violence victimization (IVV) is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including substance use, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study examined the relationships among these conditions in Mexican immigrants living in the United States, stratified by sex and mental health treatment-seeking status.  Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 896 Mexican immigrants residing in the United States. Participants were predominantly women (72%), and 71% were seeking mental health treatment. Structural equation models were estimated for the overall sample and separately by sex and treatment-seeking status.  Results: IVV was associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use. Substance use and depressive symptoms were, in turn, associated with self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These associations were consistent across sex and treatment-seeking groups. Substance use contributed more strongly to the model among men, whereas posttraumatic stress symptoms contributed more strongly among participants seeking mental health treatment.  Conclusion: Mexican immigrants visiting the Ventanillas de Salud and Mobile Health Units (VDS-UMS) reported psychoactive substance use associated with interpersonal violence victimization and self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, whereas depressive symptoms were independently related to suicide risk. These findings support integrated screening and treatment strategies addressing violence exposure, substance use, and mental health symptoms among Mexican immigrants served through these programs in the United States, all within the context of stressors that interact with vulnerability associated with migration.  Clinical implications: Integrating screening and early intervention for interpersonal violence victimization and substance use within existing binational community mental health programs may reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors among Mexican immigrants.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -