In Northern Ireland, suicides linked to domestic abuse are not recorded or recognised. This means victims may be overlooked, families are left without answers, and the true scale of the issue remains unknown.

Since 2020, over 200 people every year have died by suicide in Northern Ireland:

2020: 220

2021: 237

2022: 203

2023: 221

2024: 290

These are not just numbers they are real people, real lives, and real families. But how many of these deaths were influenced by domestic abuse? We don’t know, because it is not measured, not recorded, and not recognised.

Domestic abuse is not just physical violence. It is coercive control, fear, emotional abuse, and isolation. For some, the impact is so severe it leads to suicide. When that happens, victims may never be recognised, families are left without answers, and the system fails to learn or prevent future deaths.

Northern Ireland currently has no clear framework to recognise domestic abuse as a contributing factor in suicide, investigate these deaths properly, or record them officially. This means the true scale of domestic abuse-related deaths is hidden.

This campaign is calling for recognition of domestic abuse-related suicide, mandatory review and investigation where abuse may be a factor, official recording of these deaths, and accountability within the system.

Since 2020, around 30 women have been killed in Northern Ireland. These are the cases we can see. But there may be many more victims whose deaths are hidden within suicide statistics never recognised, never counted.

This campaign is not about one case. It is about policy change. It is about ensuring that no victim is ever overlooked again.

Every life matters. Every death deserves recognition. Every family deserves answers.

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