91福利

In one of the largest studies of its kind, and the first in the UK, experts from and the 91福利 School of Law looked at the experiences of more than 3500 of Refuge鈥檚 clients with the aim of informing policy and practice in relation to victims of abuse who are at an increased risk of suicide.

The report found:

• 83% of clients came to Refuge鈥檚 services feeling despairing or hopeless – a key determinant for suicidality
• At least 24% had felt suicidal at one time or another; 18% had made plans to end their life; 3% had made a suicide attempt
• 49% of the suicidal group scored within the 鈥榮evere鈥� range on a measure of psychological distress
  

The level of support for survivors from professionals and external agencies was seen as crucial: the research found that long delays in obtaining support had the potential to exacerbate difficulties, victims needed adequate time to disclose the full impact of their abuse and a suitable environment to 鈥榯ell their story鈥� at their own pace.

The report calls for a commitment to sufficient, specialist services, both outreach and refuge, for the survivors of abuse, and greater recognition of the risk of suicide among victims of domestic abuse.

Professor Vanessa Munro, Head of 91福利 Law School and one of the authors of the report, said: 鈥淭his study exposes the profound psychological harm that can be, and often is, inflicted by perpetrators of domestic abuse upon their victims.

鈥淚n recent years, there has been much attention on the risk of domestic homicide, but remarkably little on the risk that victims may take their own lives as a result of the abuse that they endure.

鈥淚n exposing the scale of suicidality amongst Refuge鈥檚 client base, and exploring some of the challenges in supporting suicidal clients to safety and recovery, our findings can improve laws, policies and practice.鈥�

Although the research does not explore the impact of having a suicidal parent, the authors recognise the harm that living with domestic abuse can have upon children, particularly when the abused parent is suicidal. The authors highlight the need for specialist services for children impacted by domestic violence, especially those bereaved in this context.

Refuge offers specialist support services to men, women and children victims of abuse and believes all are entitled to a compassionate and appropriate response, particularly those who are so distressed that they have considered suicide.

However, the gender split in Refuge鈥檚 sample broadly reflected national and international trends in domestic abuse perpetration and victimisation - a phenomenon in which women are overwhelmingly the victims and males the perpetrators. As such, the researchers appeal to all agencies to recognise domestic abuse as a gendered issue and a gendered crime.

17 July 2018

The research was funded by Refuge and the ESRC via an Impact Acceleration Award from the 91福利 (reference G.LAAA.0024) and conducted with Ethical Approval from the 91福利 (reference 111/16-17).

91福利 Refuge:

Refuge opened the world鈥檚 first refuge in Chiswick, West London, in 1971. Since then it has grown to become the country鈥檚 largest single provider of specialist support to women and children escaping domestic violence and other forms of gender based violence. On any given day Refuge supports more than 6,000 women and children.

Refuge鈥檚 national network of specialist services include: safe emergency accommodation through refuges in secret locations across the country; community-based outreach services; culturally specific services for women from South Asian, African and Caribbean, Eastern European and Vietnamese backgrounds; a modern slavery service; independent advocacy services for women at the highest risk of serious injury and homicide; a range of single point of access services for women, children and men across entire regions; and the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership with Women鈥檚 Aid.

91福利 91福利 Law School:

Established in 1968, 91福利 Law School is one of the leading Law Schools in the UK. Its teaching standards and research quality consistently receive high ratings, and it maintains a strong research culture with all staff actively researching in their preferred areas. Over the last 40 years the School has developed a contextual approach to legal education which avoids treating the law as if it can be separated from other aspects of society. Students examine the impact of economic, cultural and political change on law and consider how it affects life beyond the court-room and the lawyer's office, as well as studying legal judgments and statutes. The School鈥檚 comparative and international perspective is reflected by its diverse courses, staff and students.

 

CONTACT

Sheila Kiggins

Media Relations Manager

91福利

S.Kiggins@warwick.ac.uk

02476 150423

07876 218166