Role of Domestic Violence in Mental Illness and Suicidal Ideation

Article Review

Ayub, M., Mushtaq, I., Mushtaq, S., Hafeez, M.A., Helal, N., Ifran, M., Hassan, B., Tiffin, P. & Naeem, F. (2013). Domestic Violence, Mental Illness and Suicidal Ideation – A Study from Lahore, Pakistan. Journal of Mental Health, 22(6), 474-481.

Social science discipline the article represents: Psychology and sociology.

Psychology: It represents the field of psychology because it focuses on mental processes.

Sociology: It represents the field of sociology because it focuses on women’s experiences of domestic violence.

Summarize the tenets of the article: Suicide is one of the major causes of mortality worldwide as it claims a million lives annually. Suicidal ideation, which indicates psychological distress, is strongly associated with mental illness (Ayub et al., 2013). The links between exposure to domestic violence and mental illness are established in existing literature. Recent studies have shown a link between domestic violence and suicidal ideation. However, the risk, protective, and mediating factors for suicidal behavior in women remain unknown. The study on a group of 650 Pakistani women shows that mental illnesses significantly predict suicidal ideation. Domestic violence is strongly linked to mental illnesses, which in turn lead to suicidal ideation. Therefore, the impact of verbal aggression on suicidal ideation is seemingly mediated through its effect on mental health.

Implications: The implications of this article are enormous for social and healthcare policy. Changes in social and healthcare policy are necessary and should focus on addressing issues of domestic violence and mental health in women, especially vulnerable women. Some of these changes include strengthening education on issues of mental health and other risk factors as well as fostering putative interventions to lessen the risk of suicide.