An alleged family violence offence before Queensland courts has prompted WHISE to take the opportunity to highlight the evidence base about non-fatal strangulation, mental ill-health and family violence.
“To end family violence in our lifetime, it’s really important for people to understand two areas of the evidence base that are commonly misunderstood,” said WHISE Acting Chief Executive Officer Zoe Francis.
“The first fact we need to be really clear on is that non-fatal strangulation does not always leave marks you can see. The second is that mental ill-health does not explain, excuse or mitigate use of violence.”
Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) is the regional women’s health service for Victoria’s Southern Metropolitan Region, working across ten local government areas and 1.56 million people. WHISE coordinates the Promoting Respect and Equity Together (PRET) Partnership, which brings sixty partner organisations together to prevent gender-based violence across the region.
What the evidence shows about non-fatal strangulation
Non-fatal strangulation is a recognised high-risk indicator for escalating violence and homicide. Research consistently shows that only around 50% of non-fatal strangulation victims have visible external injuries, and only 15% have injuries sufficient to be photographed. Internal injuries, neurological effects, stroke risk and lasting psychological harm can be severe in cases that leave no visible trace at all.
The homicide data is unambiguous. A woman who has experienced non-fatal strangulation by a partner is 750% more likely to be killed by that person. More than half of women who have died in domestic violence situations are estimated to have experienced non-fatal strangulation before their death. Researchers describe non-fatal strangulation as a practice homicide. The line between surviving and not is measured in seconds.
“The absence of visible injury does not mean the absence of harm,” Ms Francis said.
“The research on this has been clear for decades, and it needs to be understood by everyone: the community, our workforce, and the systems responsible for keeping women safe.”
What the evidence shows about mental ill-health and violence
The relationship between mental ill-health and family violence is frequently misunderstood.
The research is clear that mental ill-health does not cause family violence. The vast majority of people living with depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions are not violent, and are in fact significantly more likely to be victims of violence.
“The evidence shows that social stressors can intensify the frequency and severity of family violence, but the root cause remains the structural abuse of power and gender inequality,” said Ms Francis.
What this means for community
WHISE supports organisations across the Southern Metropolitan Region to build the knowledge and practice that prevents violence before it escalates through the Promoting Respect and Equity Together (PRET) Partnership.
“Everyone has a role to play in ending violence. Part of this involves challenging misunderstandings and sharing the facts,” Ms Francis said.
