Conference Agenda

Introduction

Domestic violence (DV) related suicides are a global public health concern and yet there is a lack of published data about their prevalence, and limited understanding about the gender and age profile of the individuals dying in such circumstances.

Methods

This study examines six years of Real Time Suicide Surveillance (RTSS) data from a large local authority in England to highlight the prevalence of domestic violence as a major antecedent to suicide.

It produces descriptive statistics to understand more about the people dying in domestic violence related suicides including age, gender, ethnicity and other factors such as whether they also had financial difficulties or misused substances.

Results

822 deaths by suicide were examined in total, of which a third had been impacted by domestic violence, either as a victim or as a perpetrator.

The oral presentation will share the gender and age profiles of the individuals who died in DV related suicides, as well as comparing these to the profiles of people who died by suicide that hadn’t been impacted by DV.

Finally, this study also highlights that many of the people dying by suicide were known to the Police as both a victim and a perpetrator of domestic violence before they died. The session will use the RTSS data to explore whether these are primarily perpetrators making malicious and false accusations of being a victim, or whether these individuals are primarily victims who are using violent methods to resist and defend themselves and their children.

Conclusions

This study makes an important contribution to the global understanding of the prevalence and nature of domestic violence related suicides. In particular, it highlights that people known as both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence are dying in much greater numbers than previously thought.

Introduction: Individuals who have been victims of criminal offences have an excess risk of mental disorders, yet few studies have explored their risk of suicide attempt. This study investigated whether victims of offences had higher suicide attempt rates compared to non-victims.

Methods: A nationwide, longitudinal cohort study of all individuals aged ≥10 years living in Denmark from 2001 to 2023 was conducted. Data on police-reported criminal offences and hospital registered suicide attempts were obtained from national registers. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using Poisson regression models to compare rates of suicide attempt between victims of offences and non-victims. Among victims of offences, we examined predictors of suicide attempts, as well as the potential role of mental disorders following victimization in explaining the association.

Results: Out of 7,437,663 individuals, 12.4% had been victims of offences (0.8% sexual offences, 4.1% violent offences, 8.5% other offences). Compared with non-victims, the adjusted IRR for suicide attempt among victims with any type of offence was 2.3 (95% CI, 2.3-2.4) for females and 2.5 (95% CI, 2.5-2.6) for males. Among individuals whose first offence occurred before age 20, the risk of suicide attempt was higher among those whose parents had lowest level education, those not living with both parents, and those with parental histories of suicide attempts, among other factors. Across all victims without prior mental disorders, those diagnosed with a mental disorder after victimization had a significantly elevated risk of attempting suicide compared to those without this diagnosis (females IRR 6.9, 95% CI 6.6-7.2; males IRR 7.6, 95% CI 7.2-8.0).

Conclusion: Using national data, we found that victims of sexual, violent, and other offences had higher rates of suicide attempt than individuals not exposed to such offences. Our findings emphasize the need for increased attention to suicidal behavior among victims.

BACKGROUND: Excess risks of suicide have been reported for victims of sexual and physical violence. Yet, evidence based on longitudinal, large data sets with long follow-ups is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine whether victims of sexual and physical violence, and other offences have higher rates of suicide than peers not exposed to such events.

METHODS: A cohort design was applied to national longitudinal data on all individuals aged 15 years and older and living in Denmark during 2001-2024. Individuals exposed to violent offences were identified in the Register of Reported Criminal Offences and the National Patient Register. Data on deaths by suicide were obtained from the Cause of Death Register. Incidence rates ratios (IRRs) were estimated in logistic regression analyses, while adjusting for relevant covariates.

RESULTS: We observed a total of 195,754,544 person-years whereof 9,763,998 (5.0%) were lived having been victim of a criminal offence. Out of 39,775 suicide deaths, 1837 (4.6%) were among victims who had a suicide rate of 18.8 per 100,000 person-years. Individuals who had been exposed to any offence had a comparable suicide rate (IRR 1.0; CI 95%: 0.9-1.1) to those not exposed and adjusting for period, sex and age. Elevated rates of suicide were found for victims of sexual (IRR 2.1; CI 95%: 1.7-2.5) and physical (IRR 1.5; CI 95%: 1.4-1.6) violence, but not among other offences (IRR 0.9; CI 95%: 0.8-1.0) when compared to peers not exposed to the same type of offence. The final results of the analysis will be available at the time of the conference.

CONCLUSION: Suicide rates were found to vary by type of criminal offence. They suggest that victims of sexual violence have a higher risk of suicide than other groups of victims. Further, better support should be directed towards victims of sexual offences.

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide, yet minority populations including MSM remain disproportionately affected. They continued to experience increased risk of mental disorders, alongside stigma, discrimination, and limited access to mental health services, which elevate the risk of suicidal ideation. This study aimed to examine the multifactorial determinants of suicidal ideation among MSM integrating other health conditions, and behavioural and social factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Suicidal ideation was assessed across three timeframes: lifetime, most down time, and the past week. Health conditions (depression, PTSD, HIV and other STI status), and behavioural and social factors (alcohol use, sexual risk behaviours, and experience of violence and perceived social support) were tested using standardised scales. Descriptive analyses, logistic and linear regression models, and path analysis were used to examine both single-factor and multifactorial associations with suicidal ideation.

Results: A total of 375 MSM provided completed data. Overall, suicidal ideation was reported in 150 participants in lifetime, 148 in most depressed period, and 84 in the past week. Younger age, lower education and lower income were associated with higher suicidal ideation. Participants reporting suicidal ideation had substantially higher score on depression and PTSD, greater alcohol use and sexual risk behaviours, and lower social support. Depression showed the strongest association with suicidal ideation. PTSD symptoms were markedly correlated with depressive symptoms but were not independently associated with past-week suicidal ideation in multivariable analysis. HIV-positive status, hazardous alcohol use, exposure to violence, and low social support were also associated with increased suicidal ideation risk.

Conclusion: Suicidal ideation was highly prevalent among MSM and was most strongly associated with depressive symptoms. Suicide prevention strategies for MSM should prioritise the identification and intervention of depression, strengthening family and social support, reducing exposure to violence, and addressing underlying social and economic stressors.