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Originally uploaded by Ms. Ryan
Domestic Violence and Suicide
One in three women is victimized by domestic violence at some point in her life.
Only one in five victims with physical injuries seeks medical treatment.
Only about half of domestic violence incidents are reported to police.
Almost all of the perpetrators of domestic violence say that they will stop. But most don't. The violence usually gets worse.
All women who are victims of domestic violence are at risk of being murdered by their abusers.
And one out of every four women who are the victims of domestic violence attempt suicide.
Domestic violence is always wrong, and it is a crime.
And there is never an excuse for domestic violence. Never.
All perpetrators of domestic violence are cowards and criminals.
The women who are victimized by these heinous crimes feel trapped and confused. The abuser not only physically attacks the woman, but also psychologically attacks her. The verbal attacks are meant to control the victim, and to try to strip her of her self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love. The perpetrator also often wants the woman to believe that she is at fault for the violence and the verbal abuse.
Many domestic violence victims try to change their behavior (even though they are not doing anything wrong) because the horrible attacks leave them hopeless, helpless, and confused. But there really is nothing that the victims can do to stop the violence, because they are dealing with a selfish, cruel criminal who does not have a conscience. All of the blame is on the criminal--the cowardly perpetrator of the domestic violence--not on the victim.
The horrible crime of domestic violence often results in a woman isolating herself and becoming clinically depressed.
Many women feel trapped and powerless, and do not receive treatment for their depression, and thus believe that suicide is the only way out.
Also, many children who are in households where domestic violence occurs attempt suicide. Children are deeply affected by the physical and emotional abuse; they too feel powerless, and oftentimes become depressed. They may seek to end their own pain and escape from the horrors of domestic violence with dying by suicide.
