January 13th 2025.
The alarming reality of domestic abuse and its devastating effects on victims has been brought to light once again. According to recent data, the number of domestic abuse-related suicides has surpassed the number of victims killed by their intimate partners. Shockingly, this has been the case for quite some time, but it is only now being recognized.
In fact, it is estimated that one-third of all female suicides can be attributed to domestic abuse. This harrowing statistic has prompted campaigners to demand better acknowledgement of the undeniable connection between domestic abuse and suicide. Every week, three women tragically lose their lives to suicide due to the trauma they have experienced at the hands of an abusive partner.
However, this number may only be scratching the surface, as it is believed that up to 10 women take their own lives due to domestic abuse every week. This would account for one in three female suicides. The main issue is that these deaths are not being accurately recorded, resulting in a lack of understanding of the true magnitude of the problem. It is a case of "out of sight, out of mind," as if something is not being counted, it is often deemed insignificant.
Campaigners and experts are calling for proper data collection in order to bring about much-needed change. In response to this pressing issue, Metro has launched a year-long campaign called "This Is Not Right." Through this initiative, they aim to shed light on the epidemic of violence against women. Partnering with Women's Aid, they hope to engage and empower readers on this crucial issue. They also invite readers to share their own stories via email.
Frank Mullane, CEO of charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, highlights the concerning reality that domestic abuse is leading to more suicides than homicides. Yet, these cases are not being investigated thoroughly. He stresses the importance of treating all suicides where domestic abuse is known to be a potential homicide, in order to properly understand the role abuse played in the victim's death. The families of these victims often face challenges in ensuring that the suicide is properly investigated, in order to uncover any traces of domestic abuse that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Mr. Mullane also emphasizes the need for a domestic homicide review to be conducted, to fully understand the extent and impact of the abuse and to ensure that the inquest is as effective as possible. The inquest into the death of Jessie Laverack in 2022 was the first to make a clear connection between domestic abuse and suicide. In another case, the family of Roisin Hunter Bennett fought to have her inquest conclusion amended, acknowledging that she took her own life due to an emotionally abusive relationship.
Sadly, successful prosecutions for manslaughter after domestic abuse-related suicides are rare. Only recently has a defendant been tried for the unlawful killing of his partner, who took her own life after experiencing domestic violence. While he was found guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behavior, he was cleared of manslaughter.
It is evident that the issue of domestic abuse and its impact on victims extends far beyond physical violence. It is a complex and often hidden problem that needs to be addressed urgently. By bringing attention to it, we can hope to make a positive change and prevent more lives from being lost to this senseless violence.
It's a fact that the number of domestic abuse victims who have taken their own lives has surpassed the number of victims killed by an intimate partner years ago. Shockingly, domestic abuse is a contributing factor in about a third of all female suicides. Activists are now calling for more recognition of the undeniable connection between these two issues.
Tragically, it's estimated that three women die by suicide every week due to experiencing domestic abuse. However, experts believe this is just the tip of the iceberg, with as many as 10 women ending their lives in such circumstances each week. This means that one in three female suicides may be related to domestic abuse. The main issue is that these deaths are not being properly counted, leading to a lack of understanding of the true extent of the problem.
This is where the campaign This Is Not Right comes in. Launched by Metro on November 25, 2024, this year-long campaign aims to shed light on the overwhelming epidemic of violence against women. Through powerful stories and the help of our partners at Women's Aid, we hope to engage and empower our readers on this important issue. We also encourage anyone with a story to share to reach out to us via email.
Frank Mullane, CEO of the charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, stresses the urgent need for change. He points out that while domestic abuse is leading to more suicides than homicides, it is not being investigated and addressed as thoroughly. He believes that all suicides should be treated as potential homicides if there was known domestic abuse involved.
Bereaved families often face challenges in ensuring their loved one's suicide is properly investigated. This is crucial not only for ruling out the possibility of a staged homicide, but also for uncovering any evidence of domestic abuse that may have contributed to the tragedy. A domestic homicide review is essential for authorities to fully understand the extent and impact of the abuse, and to ensure that the inquest is as effective as possible.
In 2022, the inquest into the death of Jessie Laverack was the first to explicitly link domestic abuse to suicide. And just last year, the family of Roisin Hunter Bennett fought to have her inquest conclusion amended to acknowledge her emotionally abusive relationship as a factor in her death. However, it's rare for prosecutions to be successful in cases where a victim's suicide is suspected to be related to domestic abuse.
For example, Ryan Wellings was recently found guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behavior, but not of manslaughter, after his partner Kiena Dawes died by suicide following domestic violence. This highlights the need for more effective measures to address and prevent domestic abuse, as well as the crucial role of proper investigation and recognition of the issue in these tragic cases.
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