Symposium: Suicide in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence | ShantiWorks

Responding to suicide, suicide attempts and suicidal distress in the context of domestic and family violence (DFV) is a critical yet under-recognised advocacy, policy and practice issue. Across Australia, practice and data indicates that deaths by suicide linked to DFV are not consistently recognised or counted as family violence fatalities, while suicide attempts and suicidal distress remain largely overlooked.

Emerging evidence suggests that deaths by suicide among victim-survivors may exceed DFV-related homicides, highlighting the urgent need for greater recognition, practice and systemic change

As part of a small project, our team have developed a range of practice resources shaped purposefully for frontline practitioners and DFV organisations. These resources were developed after consultations with frontline DFV refuge workers, DFV refuge leaders, and victims/survivors with lived and living experience of the impacts of suicide, suicidal distress and DFV.

At this symposium, the ShantiWorks team would like to create a space to strengthen our collective practices in responding to suicide in the context of DFV.

We will share the learnings from the project, focussing on:

• Practice resources in responding to victims/survivors impacted by suicide, suicide attempts and distress.
• Building the research and evidence base – responding to tactical suicide behaviours used by perpetrators.

This symposium is for: 

Frontline workers / Organisational leaders & management / Integrated practice leaders / Policy & advocacy workers

Register here