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The relationship between domestic abuse and links to suicide

Domestic abuse is a widespread problem that has far reaching and grave consequences. To date, very little systematic data have been gathered on the relationship between domestic abuse and victim suicide.

The UK police received, on average, over 100 domestic abuse-related calls an hour in 2014/15, which represents 10% of all recorded crime (HMIC, 2015). To date, very little systematic data have been gathered on the relationship between domestic abuse and victim suicide in the UK.

In one of the first projects of its kind, the police and government in England and Wales established the Domestic Homicides Project to collect, review, and share quick-time learning from all police-recorded domestic homicides and suspected suicides of individuals with a history of domestic abuse victimisation nationally.

During Covid-19 and attendant restrictions, the Project commissioned the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, which published the report “Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides During the Covid-19 Pandemic 2020-2021” (hereafter, the VKPP Report). Unexplained or suspicious deaths, and suspected suicides of individuals with a known history of domestic abuse, were included in the VKPP Report definition to allow for capturing as wide a range of deaths following domestic abuse as possible. The VKPP Report revealed that there were 163 deaths in the 12 months from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021reported by the police in England and Wales within 7 days of death. This is slightly higher than the previous year (152); but, this figure is in line with the 15-year average with regard to Home Office police-recorded homicide data. There were a total of 38 suspected suicides of domestic abuse victims in the 12 months 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. Across all of the individuals who died, the largest proportion of deaths were from intimate partner homicide (49%), followed by adult family homicide (18%), suspected victim suicide (18%), child death (12%), and a small proportion of the cases were from other causes(3%).

Our approach

To address this gap, we conducted three strands of research, including: 1) Rapid evidence review. The review examined the long- and short-term causes, drivers and aggravating factors of domestic abuse (e.g., physical, emotional, psychological, financial) related suicide, to deliver a strong evidence base for identifying risk factors. 2) Fieldwork. A qualitative study with domestic abuse victims was conducted to better understand the relationship between domestic abuse and risk factors for suicide. 3) Quantitative evaluation. A quantitative study of domestic abuse incidents and suicide to better understand how the incidence of suicide differs amongst the victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, and how this is correlated with its form.

Project team

Outputs

Based on our results, we recommend the creation and testing of an assessment tool that aims to identify the predictors of suicide by gathering information from the survivor. Administration of the tool should include gathering information from whether they have experienced life-threatening abuse; sexual assault/rape, coercion and control; multiple abuses and repetition of abuse, as well as information about their feeling states, including feelings of despair, hopelessness and burdensomeness/ isolation/self-hatred. The tool should also take into account the effects of the abuse on the survivor’s self-identity, such as the number of relationships which have been disrupted or terminated. This should also elicit information about a survivor’s perceptions of/relationship with the police (and health services) and may assist in building trust; and any previous or childhood experiences which were trauma or terror-inducing, such as, some form of abuse, disaster (e.g., house fire), accident or medical procedure. Further information should be gathered about the survivor’s coping strategies, such as whether they are using self-harm and/or alcohol and drugs to cope. We also recommend the development of guidelines for police forces and health services to introduce and maintain a domestic abuse survivor suicide prevention/welfare pathway, with local statutory and VCS partners.

The framework should contain the information in this report, and any other/up-dated information about how domestic abuse dismantles the survivor’s identity and the link with suicide translated into operational understanding and practice. Additionally, we recommend that a small amount of additional funding is made available to explore the information collected in this research about the contact survivors have had with services other than the police and health services (e.g. children’s social care, schools, housing, immigration services, the Family courts and voluntary and community sector services). Moreover, more nuanced research needs to be undertaken to track the trajectory from abuse to suicidality and, in the process, to differentiate suicide ideation from suicidality. The research should incorporate evaluation of any of the above pilot activities. Finally, given that the quantitative analysis highlights the high rate of suicide amongst male perpetrators of domestic violence, further research is necessary to better understand this relationship and how it is affected by socio-economic factors, mental health, and substance abuse.

Read the Domestic Abuse links to suicide: Rapid Review, Fieldwork and Quantitative analysis Report

Strengthening Prevention: Enhancing frontline services to support individuals in staying safe from suicide following domestic abuse

Individuals experiencing domestic abuse face a significantly heightened risk of suicide, yet current systems fail to safeguard them effectively. This policy brief, based on research commissioned by the Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, presents urgent recommendations to strengthen frontline responses across health and criminal justice services.

Drawing on interviews with survivors of domestic abuse, police and coroner data, and a comprehensive literature review, the brief highlights critical gaps in service provision and outlines practical, trauma-informed solutions. These include mandatory suicide safeguarding protocols, survivor-led training for professionals, and the development of national suicide prevention pathways tailored to the needs of domestic abuse survivors.

The brief calls for a coordinated, multi-agency approach that recognises the complexities of abuse, trauma, and suicidality, and prioritises compassionate, context-sensitive care over clinical diagnosis alone.

Download the full policy brief (PDF) to explore the evidence base and recommendations for reducing preventable deaths and improving support for individuals impacted by domestic abuse.