Perceived need for mental health services among homeless Latino drug users

Co-morbid mental health disorders are common among individuals with substance use disorders. Treatment integration is imperative for vulnerable populations with disparate needs and access to health services. Homeless, Latino drug users have been identified as underutilizing behavioral health care. This exploratory study examined whether severity of need was associated with level of motivation to enter mental health treatment for a sample of 214 homeless Latino drug users who reported mental health symptoms in the past year. The data originated from a five-year program effort to increase utilization of substance abuse and mental health treatment among homeless Latino drug users. In-person interview data was analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Severity of need was measured as 1) self-reported mental health symptomology in the past 30 days; 2) self-reported history of victimization; and 3) substance use severity. The analysis controlled for demographic characteristics, social support for recovery, prior use of psychopharmacological medication, and prior substance abuse treatment use. The analysis identified that female gender and a history of having been physically attacked, mugged, or robbed were associated with increased motivation to seek mental health treatment. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and support for treatment among marginalized populations. Insufficient research has been conducted exploring the complexity of victimization, substance use disorders, and mental health disorders among Latino populations. Consequently, few evidence-based practices have been developed and implemented that target Latinos experiencing co-morbid disorders. There is a pressing need for comprehensive, culturally responsive public health prevention efforts that support treatment engagement.