Women who have suffered domestic violence are three times more likely to attempt suicide, seven times more for victims of sexual abuse.
- 7,000 women over the age of 16 had to answer questions about their mental health and declare the domestic violence they had suffered.
- 27% of participants reported having experienced physical, sexual or psychological harm in their lifetime.
- Sexual abuse increased the risk of self-harm.
35%. The proportion of women who have been in romantic relationships who have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence from their intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). “This violence leads to mental, sexual and reproductive health problems in women victims and can increase their vulnerability to HIV”, reports the health authority.
Mental health: 7,000 women were interviewed
In a recent reportthe organization Agenda Alliance indicates that suicide and domestic violence are both recognized as major public health problems. “However, the links between them have been very little studied”, she specifies. To establish the link between the physical, sexual or psychological suffering suffered by women, suicidal thoughts and attempts, the organization questioned 7,000 people aged over 16 about their mental health. In order to identify participants who had experienced domestic violence, they were asked if they had ever had a partner and to talk about the different types of abuse and abuse they experienced from their “boyfriend”. “, their fiancé or their husband.
Sexual abuse is associated with high risks of self-harm
According to the data, more than a quarter (27%) of participants said they had been victims of domestic violence in their lifetime. Overall, 16% of women experienced two or more types of violence, compared to 5% of men. Patients who had been abused were three times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year than those who had not.
Another finding: people who have been victims of sexual abuse are seven times more likely to try to end their lives. Report finds sexual violence associated with risks “particularly high” of self-harm. “The key findings are shocking and appalling. It is shameful that the clear link between domestic violence and suicidal thoughts in women has not previously been recognized as the public health crisis that it is,” said Jess Southgate, CEO of Agenda Alliance.
