Some victim-survivors take their own lives. We need to better understand how suicide and family violence are linked

In 2024, a young mother in Victoria ended her own life. As family violence services and Victoria Police pointed out^[1], there were key circumstances that may have contributed to her death.

Her former partner was about to be released from prison. He had been serving time for a criminal conviction for abusive behaviour towards her.

This case is not an isolated one. Media coverage^[2] in November last year reported other young women who died by suicide whose partners had been alleged abusers.

There is mounting evidence about the role family violence can play in suicides. Last year, data from the Victorian Coroners Court^[3] revealed family violence was present in one in four (24.5%) suicides recorded between 2009 and 2016.

Data also highlight family violence was more likely to be present in the lives of women^[4] who died by suicide than men.

But there’s still a lot we don’t know about these issues. Our study^[5], released today, examines the circumstances surrounding women’s deaths by suicide following experiences of family violence in Victoria.

Our findings point to ways systems could be improved to better understand how family violence and suicide might be linked. These may help prevent women’s deaths.

Taking a broad view

We conducted interviews with 20 people working across the family violence, health and justice sectors in Victoria and the United Kingdom.

We found there needs to be greater attention paid to understanding how experiences of family violence contribute to suicide risk. This is in line with international research^[6].

In our interviews, participants described women’s experiences of entrapment and their fear of the perpetrator. Some women often didn’t have many options to seek help and they experienced the cumulative effects of violence over time.

This pain and fear often stayed with them after a relationship, sometimes for a very long time.

Professionals interviewed also raised concerns about how the link between family violence and suicide may be missed. This is especially the case where other factors are also present, such as drug or alcohol dependencies, or mental ill health.

The current approach to investigating these cases often focuses on immediate, recently reported and/or clearly evidenced links. There is an opportunity for police and coronial investigations to be broadened to better understand the full and longer term impacts of family violence.

Better screening for risk

Our study found current approaches to risk identification and assessment may not effectively identify or respond to a victim’s risk of suicide.

One limitation is how systems respond when women seek help and how this shapes the support they receive. We were told that women with alcohol and other drug dependencies may not have their past or ongoing experiences of family violence adequately identified or addressed.

The risk assessment process also may not effectively capture the cumulative impact of family violence when combined with other vulnerabilities. These can include economic pressures, mental health conditions and other health challenges.

Recognising mental health, suicide and family violence as interconnected experiences may help women to get appropriate help sooner. In order to do this, different sectors would need to collaborate more to make support timely and effective.

Victoria, alongside other Australian state and territories, has undertaken significant reforms to risk assessment and management practices in recent years. Our study points to further opportunities to enhance current practices and the frameworks used.

Safer places to live

Victim-survivors of family violence need access to safe and supported accommodation when leaving abusive relationships. Experts have increasingly called for this^[7] in recent years.

The use of motels as a short-term safe housing option when there is no specialist housing available is unstable and unsafe^[8] for many women. Short stays in motels can compound feelings of isolation and fail to connect the victim-survivor with suitable support services.

Read more: Crisis accommodation is failing women fleeing domestic violence. Here's how to fix it^[9]

During our interviews, we were told that motels are a particularly unsuitable option for women thinking of taking their own lives.

There is an urgent need for long-term, sustainable housing solutions for family violence victim-survivors. Moving away from a reliance on emergency motel accommodation is an important first step.

Getting the full picture

In 2024, the Australian government commissioned a rapid review of prevention approaches^[10] to gender-based violence. It found improving understanding of, and responses to, suicides related to family violence must become state and national priorities.

Delivering on this recommendation requires:

Since the 2022 release of the family violence national plan^[11], significant attention has been paid, rightly so, to the ongoing killing of women allegedly by men’s violence across Australia.

But we are yet to grapple with the full spectrum of those deaths. Doing so requires a better understanding of how women who experience family violence die by suicide.

That understanding can improve system responses, prevention work and ultimately, help save lives.

The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. For mental health support, you can call call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

References

1. ^{^} pointed out (www.theage.com.au)
2. ^{^} Media coverage (www.smh.com.au)
3. ^{^} data from the Victorian Coroners Court (www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au)
4. ^{^} women (theconversation.com)
5. ^{^} Our study (doi.org)
6. ^{^} international research (aafda.org.uk)
7. ^{^} called for this (www.smh.com.au)
8. ^{^} unstable and unsafe (theconversation.com)
9. ^{^} Crisis accommodation is failing women fleeing domestic violence. Here's how to fix it (theconversation.com)
10. ^{^} rapid review of prevention approaches (www.pmc.gov.au)
11. ^{^} national plan (www.dss.gov.au)