Exploring how migration-related trauma affects the mental health of Latina immigrant women.
Official title: Hardship and Survival: The Impact of Migration-Related Trauma, Communal Coping, and Social Stressors on the Suicide and Mental Health Outcomes of Latina Immigrant Women
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10934331 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the mental health struggles of Latina immigrant women, especially how moving to a new country and dealing with stress affects them, and it wants to learn how they find support and strength through their community and culture.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F31MD018931-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10934331 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Latina immigrant women who have experienced migration-related trauma and are facing mental health challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Latina immigrants or who have not experienced migration-related trauma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mental health challenges faced by Latina immigrant women, particularly focusing on the impact of migration-related trauma and social stressors. It aims to understand how these women cope with their experiences through communal support and cultural practices. By examining their lived experiences, the study seeks to identify factors that increase the risk of suicide and promote resilience. The methodology includes qualitative interviews and surveys to gather in-depth insights into their mental health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health support and interventions tailored for Latina immigrant women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding cultural and communal coping mechanisms can significantly improve mental health outcomes in immigrant populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mata Lopez, Laura Rebeca — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mata Lopez, Laura Rebeca
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Pediatric Emergency Department Family Navigation to Connect Youth with Suicide and Self-Injury Care
A program helps families navigate emergency department visits for youth with suicide- or self-injury-related concerns to connect them with mental health care.
-
Socioecological factors linked to autism and suicide risk in youth
A large study will look at how personal, community, and system factors influence suicide risk and mental health care for autistic teens and young people.
-
Suicide prevention help for Veterans using VA community care
A program called VA BIC aims to reduce suicide risk among Veterans who receive mental health care outside VA facilities, by providing brief interventions and follow-up contact.
-
Integrating suicide prevention into community mental health programs for mothers in low-resource areas
This study is all about helping mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth by making sure they get the mental health support they need, especially to prevent suicidal thoughts, by training community members to recognize and help with these feelings.
-
How states pay for and run the 988 suicide and mental health crisis hotline
This project looks at how different states fund and put the 988 crisis hotline into practice to help people who call during a mental health emergency.
-
Making short coping plans more helpful using phones and wearables
Researchers will use phone check-ins and wearable sensors to learn when brief safety plans help people recently discharged from psychiatric hospitals who are at high risk for suicide.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.