Women who have experienced abuse from a partner are three times more likely to have made a suicide attempt in the past year, according to new research.
Agenda Alliance has published data in a new briefing paper, ‘Underexamined and Underreported’ after analysis of data by academics from the VISION Consortium at City, University of London.
The data was based on questions about suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm and on the most recent Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS).
The research also found that sexual abuse puts victims at raised risk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, and women are ten times more likely than men to experience sexual abuse by a partner.
It also found that women living in poverty are especially at risk of domestic abuse – with around half of women (47%) who are unemployed, or unable to work due to sickness or disability, having experienced domestic abuse from a partner.
Agenda Alliance has called for a range of measures including for all public authorities to ensure staff are trained to understand the links between domestic abuse and suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts and for police to record and investigate for history of domestic abuse in the case of suicides and unexpected deaths.
Jess Southgate, Deputy CEO Of Agenda Alliance, said: “It is shameful that the clear link between domestic abuse and suicidal feelings amongst women has not previously been recognised as the public health crisis that it is.”
She added: “All public service professionals must be trained to ask if women are safe, and to support them to get the help they need. With a new Suicide Prevention Strategy promised this year, now is the time to demand appropriate action, training and support.”
Sally McManus, senior lecturer in health at the Violence and Society Centre, based at City, University of London, said: “It’s vital that welfare professionals, as well as those working in health and social care, recognise the very high rates of domestic abuse experienced by such women and are aware of the extent to which their distress can manifest in self-harm and suicidality. They should be trained to ask people if they are safe and supported to act accordingly.”
As well as victims of domestic abuse, there is also evidence of increased suicide risk among perpetrators, including recent research by Prof Mike Doyle, of the School of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield, and member of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Suicide Prevention Oversight Group (SPOG).
His 2022 evaluation of a ‘System for Real-Time Surveillance of Suicide in England’ references concerns about domestic abuse perpetrators who accounted for 23 per cent of suspected suicides in a 2020 audit in South Yorkshire.
He said further investigation is now underway into the findings.
These latest findings show the continued need to work as a system to reduce domestic abuse as in doing so will contribute to suicide prevention outcomes.
Our Suicide Prevention Programme work includes plans to expand suicide prevention training to reach teams and individuals who come into contact with victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse. Contact Jessica.parker57@nhs.net to find out more.
Work is also underway in West Yorkshire with public health colleagues working with West Yorkshire Police and local safeguarding boards and processes to explore further opportunities to prevent suicide.
*An excellent website has been created in Bradford which brings together the various organisations across the city which provide advice and support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Check it out here