suicide

Perpetrators of domestic abuse employ a wide range of tactics to control and abuse their partners or ex -partners. Survivors report a range controlling, emotional and destructive tactics all of which can have devastating effects on their emotional and mental well-being and without support or safety many women feel there is no escape other than through ending their life by suicide. Recent research by Professor Jane Monckton-Smith and other academics have highlighted many suicides are in fact the ‘hidden victims’ of domestic abuse.  Professor Monckton-Smith has received Home Office funding to examine about 100 suicides related to domestic abuse in order to pick out the patterns and identify the red flags.  The sociologist Prof Sylvia Walby, estimated that about one-third of female suicides were women who had experienced domestic violence. In 2018, a study of 3500 women accessing  services  that support women and children experiencing domestic abuse, established that 24% had felt suicidal and 18% had made plans to end their life. This session seeks to explore the literature and emerging research in this area, enabling consideration as to how best safety and risk can be considered in this context, potential indicators, the principles of safety planning and the importance of signposting to specialist services. By the end of the session you will:

• Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
• Have an enhanced understanding of the main issues in asking and responding to anyone experiencing domestic abuse
• Have greater knowledge, skills confidence and motivation to recognise and respond to domestic abuse.
• Have explored and practised the skills, knowledge and tools to better identify risk, assess protective factors and increase safety for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator. Judy Ferguson worked as the Trainer with East Ayrshire Women’s Aid for nearly 10 years, leading on all Domestic Abuse and Gender Based Violence multi agency training within the local Violence Against Women Partnership,  including securing the establishment and roll out of Safe & Together across Children & Families Social Work and the local Health & Social Care Partnership. As a SafeLives Subject Matter Expert Judy also delivered the Domestic Abuse Matters training programme to Police Scotland supporting the roll out of the ground breaking Domestic Abuse Scotland Act (2018).  After working with SWA in various capacities over the years Judy joined the team at SWA full time as National Training Coordinator in July 2021. Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.