When people think about fatal outcomes of domestic abuse, the focus is often on homicides cases where someone is killed by a partner or family member. What receives far less public attention but is equally important is the prevalence of suicides linked to domestic abuse. In the UK, evidence shows that deaths by suicide where abuse including coercive control or psychological harm is a contributing factor occur more often than domestic homicides each year, yet they remain largely invisible in official statistics and public discussion.
This article explains the key differences between domestic abuse related suicide and domestic homicide, why suicide is often overlooked, and what this means for prevention and professional response.
What Is Domestic Homicide?
Domestic homicide refers to a situation where one person kills another with whom they have or had an interpersonal or family relationship. In the UK, these cases are subject to rigorous investigation, and often lead to a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) a statutory process that seeks to identify lessons that could prevent future deaths.
Characteristics of domestic homicides include:
- Clearly identifiable perpetrator
- Clear incident date and time
- Often physical violence preceding the homicide
- Legal and criminal justice responses
- Public accountability and reporting
Domestic homicides are visible in media, statistics, and policy discourse in part because they are definitive events with clear legal outcomes.
What Is Domestic Abuse Related Suicide?
Domestic abuse related suicide refers to deaths by suicide where domestic abuse has been a significant contributing factor. Unlike homicides, these deaths are often buried within broader suicide statistics and are rarely recognised or recorded as abuse-related in official datasets.
Suicides linked to domestic abuse may follow:
- Long-term psychological abuse
- Financial coercion or entrapment
- Isolation from social supports
- Emotional or verbal abuse
- Escalation of fear and hopelessness
Domestic abuse related suicide does not require a single violent act at the moment of death; rather, it is the pattern of abuse over time that contributes to the distress leading to suicide.
Why Suicide Occurs More Often Than Homicide
1. Coercive Control and Long-Term Harm
Coercive control repeated patterns of domination, manipulation, and restriction is a powerful risk factor for suicide. Victims often experience:
- Loss of confidence and autonomy
- Chronic fear and stress
- Isolation from support networks
- Entrapment with no perceived escape
These psychological injuries build up over time, increasing the likelihood of suicidal ideation.
2. Under-Recording of Abuse in Suicide Data
Many suicide statistics do not include contextual information about abuse history. If a person dies by suicide and their psychological abuse history is not known or recorded, the death is categorised simply as “suicide” without reference to abuse as a causal factor. This leads to:
- Underestimation of abuse-related suicide
- Poor understanding of domestic abuse impact
- Limited learning for prevention
3. Separation of Mental Health and Safeguarding Systems
Suicide prevention often sits within mental health services, while domestic abuse responses are part of safeguarding frameworks. When systems do not communicate effectively, abuse histories may not inform suicide risk assessments, and suicide risk may not trigger safeguarding actions.
4. Lack of Visible Injury
Unlike homicide, suicide does not require visible physical injury inflicted by another person at the moment of death. Psychological abuse and coercive control leave no physical traces, which can make the connection between domestic abuse and suicide less obvious to professionals and coroners.
How Official Reviews Are Addressing This Gap
Recognising this gap, the UK has expanded Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs) to include suicides where domestic abuse is a contributing factor. This is a significant development because it:
- Acknowledges that suicide can be a direct outcome of abuse
- Allows patterns and failures to be identified
- Supports learning across police, health, and safeguarding services
- Promotes earlier intervention and prevention
When conducted effectively, DARDRs can reveal missed opportunities that, if acted on sooner, might have prevented the death.
Differences In Response and Public Perception
Domestic Homicide Responses
- Criminal investigation
- Media reporting
- Public outrage and policy discussion
- Structured DHR process
- Systemic learning
Domestic Abuse Related Suicide Responses
- Often recorded simply as “suicide”
- Limited trauma history recorded
- Few public disclosures
- Minimal systemic learning
- Less visible to policy makers
This asymmetry in response means that large parts of domestic abuse impact are hidden from public debate and service development.
What This Means for Prevention and Practice
Understanding the differences between suicide and homicide in the context of domestic abuse is not just academic — it has real implications for prevention.
For Mental Health Professionals
- Ask about current and past abusive relationships
- Incorporate domestic abuse history in risk assessments
- Understand psychological harm and coercive control
For Safeguarding Leads
- Ensure multi-agency information sharing
- Treat suicide risk as a safeguarding concern
- Recognise abuse patterns beyond physical violence
For Police and Justice Professionals
- Consider abuse history even when there is no direct violent incident
- Share risk information longitudinally, not just per incident
For Employers and Community Organisations
- Be aware that abuse affects mental health long before crisis
- Provide supportive pathways for disclosure and help-seeking
Evidence and Research Insights
Research consistently shows that non-physical forms of abuse, including coercive control and psychological harm, are strongly associated with:
- Suicidal ideation
- Chronic depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
Studies highlight that the absence of physical injury does not mean the absence of harm. Longitudinal research also shows that suicide risk can be elevated:
- During the abusive relationship
- Particularly around separation
- Even after the relationship ends
These findings underscore the importance of recognising that domestic abuse is not only a safety concern but also a mental health and suicide prevention concern.
Lived Experience and System Blind Spots
Many individuals who have survived coercive relationships describe feeling:
- Misunderstood by professionals
- Dismissed when psychological harm is described
- Treated as though their distress is internal rather than externally caused
- Frustrated by lack of joined-up support
These lived experiences highlight that professionals and systems need to improve how they respond.
Support and Help in the UK
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse or experiencing thoughts of suicide, support is available:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7): 0808 2000 247
- Samaritans (24/7): 116 123
- GPs and local mental health services
- Safeguarding services
- Emergency services if there is immediate danger
Support is confidential, non-judgmental, and can provide a path forward.
For a broader overview of prevalence and risk factors, see our main article:
Prevalence of Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control Related Suicide in the UK
Implications for Safeguarding and Training
Professionals must:
- Treat suicide as a potential domestic abuse outcome
- Consider coercive control in all risk assessments
- Record abuse disclosures consistently
- Share information across agencies
Training plays a vital role in closing this gap.
Frequentley Asked Questions
What is the difference between domestic abuse related suicide and domestic homicide?
Domestic homicide involves a killing by a partner or family member, while domestic abuse related suicide refers to a death by suicide where domestic abuse, coercive control, or psychological abuse is a contributing factor.
Why are domestic abuse related suicides harder to identify than domestic homicides?
Suicides linked to domestic abuse are often recorded as mental health deaths without full consideration of abuse history. Psychological abuse may leave no visible evidence, and records can be fragmented across agencies.
Does domestic abuse have to involve physical violence to be linked to suicide risk?
No. Psychological abuse and coercive control can significantly increase suicide risk through entrapment, isolation, fear, and the erosion of autonomy and hope.
When is suicide risk highest for victims of domestic abuse?
Risk can increase during periods of escalation and is often heightened around separation, when control is challenged and threats, stalking, or intimidation may intensify.
What should professionals do when domestic abuse and suicide risk overlap?
Professionals should treat coercive control as a high-risk indicator, connect mental health symptoms with safeguarding concerns, record disclosures consistently, and share relevant information across services where appropriate.