DV survivors and suicide

[ArabellaScott]

A very sad article.

https://news.sky.com/story/staggering-number-of-domestic-abuse-victims-taking-own-lives-13335115

'Since 2020, the most common form of death recorded in a domestic setting has become suicide following domestic abuse.'

Killed my friend they recorded it as suicide but the police might as well have killed her themselves not being believed despite him being arrested multiple times for the same offences over multiple partners why wasn't she believed? She drank why did she drink? She was being abused and then she had to hand over her children to her abuser you know the narrative?

You picked him
Choose better next time
Why blame him you stayed
You kept your children in that environment
You could always not send them that's what I would do if I "really" was being "abused" by a man

We are still unconvinced she actually did it alone

Too many women don't have faith in the authorities to protect them while in a DV relationship, let alone afterwards. It's no mans land.

I am so very, very sorry, Theunnamedcat. Heartbreaking.

The Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2022-2024 Report, released today, examining domestic abuse related deaths in England and Wales has shown the scale of domestic homicides, and for the second year in a row, suspected suicides following domestic abuse have overtaken the number of homicides involving current or previous partners.

This reflects increased awareness and progress made against recommendations in the project’s last report, which focused on improving policing’s ability to better recognise and record the link between domestic abuse and suicide.

Key findings from 2024 report:

262 deaths were recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024:

• 98 suspected suicide following domestic abuse (SVSDA)
• 80 intimate partner homicides (IPH)
• 39 adult family homicides
• 28 unexpected deaths
• 11 child deaths
• 6 ‘other’ (where the victim and suspect lived together, but were not related or intimate partners

22 cases of deaths due to a fall from height were recorded across 13 forces during the four-year period, of those:

• 36% were recorded as SVSDA, 27% unexpected deaths, 23% IPH and 14% AFH
• Notably, three victims (14%) were pregnant at the time of their death
• In 70% of cases the suspect was arrested

For the second year in a row, suspected suicides following domestic abuse have overtaken the number of homicides involving current or previous partners. This reflects increased awareness and progress made against recommendations in the project’s last report, which focused on improving policing’s ability to better recognise and record the link between domestic abuse and suicide.

Over four years (1 April 2020 – 31 March 2024), the number of people killed by their current or previous partner consistently represents around a third of domestic abuse-related deaths each year.

https://www.vkpp.org.uk/news/multi-agency-approach-crucial-to-prevent-domestic-abuse-deaths/

It's because services are shit and there's absolutely no education available to the people who are meant to help us. Domestic abuse and healthcare providers don't understand that most women who are abused have PTSD. It takes someone clear headed to know what you need to do which is impossible when you're in survivor mode.

My case was NFA'ed in November because we "were in a relationship". I complained and it's now been reopened. Since it's been reopened I've found out there were previous allegations made against him; and he's also previously been charged with possession of illegal porn. I've been told that my case has now reached the threshold where he should be charged.

To top it off, my GP never referred me to psychiatric services in spite of me telling him that I had thoughts that I wanted to end my life. The one day he actually emailed a psychiatrst was when I left my house with the gas on all day and ended up the wrong side of London when I was meant to be meeting a friend. The result of this wasn't a diagnosis of PTSD but bipolar and the psychiatrist actually prescribed me medication without even seeing me. I then underwent a private diagnosis and was told I had PTSD and bipolar 2. I'm only now on the correct medication.

NotAScoobyDoo2

I hope you get all the time and support you need to heal.

I hear you & feel your pain.

If a woman I knew asked me if they would report DV or SA to the police, I honestly don't know what I'd respond with.

I want to say YES, for them & to punish the prick.

My lived experience, like yours screams NO.

I'm sorry your journey has been so familiar