The deaths of women, children and young people by suicide in the context of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) victimisation is an important but often overlooked dimension of gender-based violence.
There is evidence that DFSV contributes significantly to the burden of mental health issues leading to self-harm and suicide among victims in Australia. Women, children and young people are disproportionately affected.
This submission to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into the relationship between DFSV and suicide highlights gaps and opportunities to improve system responses to suicide and suicide risk in the context of DFSV. We call on governments to:
- strengthen system capacity to recognise, assess and respond to suicide risk among victims of DFSV, as well as suicide threats or attempts used as a tactic by people who use violence
- invest in healing and recovery support for children and young people who have experienced DFSV as a suicide prevention measure
- expand access to suicide postvention services, especially for children and young people and people in rural and regional services
- expand prevention and early intervention initiatives addressing rigid gender norms and other drivers of DFSV and harmful behaviours such as suicide.
Our submission is informed by the practice experience of our staff and participants, and draws on our experience delivering suicide postvention services, as well as prevention and early intervention programs to reduce men’s violence.
