Examining the Role of Childhood Exposure to Family/domestic Violence in Suicidal Behaviours Among Young People in an Australian Jurisdiction
Tracks
Ballroom 2 - In Person Only
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 |
11:15 AM - 11:35 AM |
Ballroom 2 |
Overview
Dr Dominique De Andrade & Prof Silke Meyer, Griffith University
Details
Presentation Key Learnings
1. Exposure to domestic/family violence as a child/young adult is a significant predictor of suicide for some groups of young people.
2. Almost half of young people that experienced at least one episode of suicidal crisis requiring acute health services had a history of exposure to family/domestic violence.
3. One in three young people that died by suicide had a history of exposure to family/domestic violence.
Speaker
Dr Dominique De Andrade
ARC DECRA Fellow
Griffith University
Examining the role of childhood exposure to family/domestic violence in suicidal behaviours among young people in an Australian jurisdiction
Abstract
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people in Australia. The role of childhood/young adulthood exposure to family/domestic violence as a risk factor in engaging in suicidal behaviour is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate this relationship using multi-system linked data on more than 620,000 young people in Victoria, Australia. The cohort included all young people enrolled in year 9 schooling across the state between 2011 and 2019. Routinely collected administrative data from justice, mortality, welfare, education and health agencies were linked across the lifetime until November 2020. A measure of family/domestic violence exposure as a victim, witness or affect family member was developed utilising police data. An outcome measure of suicide was developed using Victorian Suicide Register data and the Victorian Death Registry and Cause of Death Index data. Stratified by sex, survival analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between exposure to family/domestic violence and suicide, while controlling for mental health service engagement, Indigenous status and episodes of suicidal crisis. Episodes of suicidal crisis was a time-varying covariate, developed by linking data on presentations to emergency department, ambulance and hospital. The prevalence of exposure to family/domestic violence among young people that present to acute health services during suicidal crisis was also investigated, as was patterns and timing of service contact and suicidal behaviour. Findings highlight the complex needs of at-risk young people, critical periods in the life course for intervention, and key sex differences. Findings further raise direct implications for policy and practice, informing service delivery and resource allocation in health and welfare sectors.
Biography
Dr Dominique de Andrade is an ARC DECRA Fellow at the Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University. She is a member of the Centre for Mental Health at Griffith University and holds honorary fellow positions with the Lives Lived Well Research Group, University of Queensland; and the Centre for Drug Use, Addictive and Anti-social Behaviour at Deakin University. She is also an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Drug Policy. Her research interests include youth mental health, particularly related to suicidal behaviour and substance dependence; and substance-related violence. She conducts much of her research utilising multi-sector data linkage methodology.
Prof Silke Meyer
Leneen Forde Chair in Child & Family Research
Griffith University
Examining the Role of Childhood Exposure to Family/domestic Violence in Suicidal Behaviours Among Young People in an Australian Jurisdiction
Biography
Prof Silke Meyer is the Leneen Forde Chair in Child & Family Research at Griffith University and an Adjunct Professor at the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre. She is a criminologist and social worker by training, bringing practical and theoretical expertise to her research, teaching and writing. Her research centres on different aspects of domestic and family violence, including women and children’s safety and wellbeing, men’s accountability in their role as perpetrators and fathers, experiences specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the role of domestic and family violence-informed practice in child protection, healthcare, policing and court related service delivery. Silke has delivered evaluations for government and non-government organisations, including police, courts, child protection, perpetrator interventions and victim support services. She is a Subject Matter Expert for the Raising Children Network and the 1800RESPECT Clinical Governance Committee. She regularly delivers training on domestic and family violence informed practice to police, magistrates, family law and healthcare practitioners.
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