West Midlands Police – Tackling Domestic Violence Campaign, Author West Midlands Police, United Kingdom (CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic)
Historically, the focus in suicide prevention has been on men because of their longstanding higher suicide rate [1A]. This has overshadowed the growing rate of attempted suicide and self-harm among women, and the close link with domestic abuse.
“…when a woman presents to [mental health] services in suicidal distress it is likely that she’s a victim of domestic abuse.”
–Sally McManus, Sr. Lecturer in Health at the Violence and Society Centre
A groundbreaking study in the United Kingdom last year found that women subjected to domestic abuse (physical, psychological, or economic) are three times more likely to attempt suicide [2A].
Women who have experienced sexual abuse within their relationship are seven times more likely to self-harm [2B]. And women are ten times more likely to experience sexual abuse by a partner than straight or gay men are [1B].
Intimidation, Threats, and Force
Domestic abusers attempt to control their victims through intimidation, threats, and/or actual force [3A]. Typically, they humiliate their partners; isolate partners from friends and family; rigidly regulate what partners may do; and deny partners access to money or other basic necessities [3B].
Emotional Toll
Fear, shame, learned helplessness, a perceived lack of support by family members and friends, hopelessness, and despair are likely to result [3C][4A]. Intimate partner victimization is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in both men and women [4B].
Law Enforcement Crisis
This is a law enforcement crisis, as well as a public health crisis.
According to the FBI, domestic violence accounts for 50% of local police calls [3D]. Over 10 million individuals experience intimate partner violence in the United States each year [3E]. Women comprise the vast majority of victims.
“Primarily, officers strive to protect individuals from further harm or death. Their protocol usually does not include suicide risk screenings.”
–Anthony Salvatore, Dir. of Development/Suicide Prevention, Montgomery County Emergency Service, Norristown, PA [3F]
Police treat intimate partner violence as a high priority [3G]. Unfortunately, the chaos that often accompanies such calls makes it difficult for responding officers to uncover suicide risk [3H].
Suicide Risk Screening
Since victims may not always have access to important resources like hotlines and crisis centers, police officers responding to a domestic violence call might pose the following questions [3I]:
- In the past few weeks, have you wished you were dead?
- In the past few weeks, have you felt that your family would be better off if you were dead?
- In the past week, have you had thoughts about killing yourself?
An affirmative answer to any of these questions indicates a need for more thorough assessment.
- Have you ever tried to kill yourself?
An affirmative answer to this question indicates a permanent — though perhaps not current — suicide risk.
- Are you having thoughts of killing yourself now?
An affirmative answer to this question indicates a psychiatric emergency.
Such suicide risk screening could save lives.
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[1A and 1B] Agenda Alliance, “New Figures Reveal Link Between Suicidal Thoughts And Domestic Abuse”, 2/22/23, https://www.agendaalliance.org/news/new-figures-reveal-link-between-suicidal-thoughts-and-domestic-abuse/.
[2A and 2B] The Guardian, “Women who suffer domestic abuse three times as likely to attempt suicide” by Denis Campbell, 2/22/23, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/22/women-who-suffer-domestic-abuse-three-times-as-likely-to-attempt-suicide.
[3A through 3I] FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, “Intimate Partner Violence: A Pathway to Suicide” by Anthony Salvatore, 5/14/18, https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/intimate-partner-violence-a-pathway-to-suicide.
[4A and 4B] Psychology Today, “Victims of Intimate Partner Violence and Suicidal Behavior” by Megan Chesin, 12/5/23, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/preventing-suicide/202311/victims-of-intimate-partner-violence-and-suicidal-behavior.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
💔 absolutely heartbreaking
I’m certainly not learned in the subject matter, but this crisis of suicide and domestic abuse seem to have at their root the need to control others. Once an individual has been systematically controlled and abused to the point of hopelessness, those who suffer often see only one way to escape, and that is by taking their own life.
This madness is yet another consequence of rejecting the love that God freely offers to all. The Bible speaks in 2nd Timothy 3 about the days in which we live when men will be “unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,”…
All of this speaks to the mindset so prevalent in society today. Without Christ in our hearts and lives we devolve into monsters who care only about self and who have no feelings towards others. Compassion and mercy have been replaced with control, hatred, and brutality.
The laws of God are being slowly replaced by the laws of the jungle where only the strongest and most cruel survive, and the weaker are controlled and subjected to unimaginable evil. This is NOT God’s plan for His creation!
“Compassion and mercy have been replaced with control, hatred, and brutality.” This statement captures the spiritual reality. As we turn away from God, the world grows ever darker.