Almost half of young women subjected to relationship abuse have suicidal thoughts - study

Mary Hayes, Project Lead of the #TooIntoYou campaign with ambassadors B and Jody Duggan. Picture: Paul Sharp/Sharpix

Almost half of young women (44%) subjected to intimate relationship abuse have experienced suicidal thoughts, while nearly one fifth (19%) said they had attempted suicide because of the abuse.

The stark figures were revealed today by Women’s Aid as it launched a campaign to highlight the “severe impact” that such abuse can have on young women’s mental wellbeing.

These impacts include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the organisation, as women described being put down, criticised, intimidated, monitored, or threatened with violence.

Women’s Aid also said that young people can often face difficulty identifying abusive behaviours due to the subtlety of the manipulation they may be subjected to.

“[Our] research on intimate relationship abuse against young women in Ireland found that 1 in 5 young women aged 18-25 have been subjected to abuse by a current male partner,” Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson said.

“84% of these young women said that the abuse had a severe impact on them including suffering low self-esteem/self-worth, enduring anxiety and depression. and being isolated or withdrawn from friends, family, and social events.”

Women’s Aid said that emotional abuse, online abuse, and sexual coercion are all commonly faced by young women.

Orla*, a young women who faced initimate relationship abuse, shared her story with Women’s Aid. “When I was 17, I got into a relationship with an older boy. A few months in, he was adamant for me to stay in his house on the weekends, this is where the isolation began.

Not hanging out with my friends on weekends, not spending time with my family. If I was to hang out with friends or attend a birthday party he would always join. After two years of this behaviour, I became a recluse. I felt so alone from falling out with my best friend and family over him.

“This made me feel even worse as I thought he was the only person I had left. I knew what he was doing was wrong, but I couldn’t stay away, he had isolated me from all my family and my friends, and I felt like I had nothing left but him.” 

Women’s Aid said it was renewing its #TooIntoYou campaign to highlight the impact of such abuse against young people.

Project lead Mary Hayes said the campaign was about helping young people be aware of what an abusive relationship looks like and be able to spot red flags early on before things worsen.

“We also want them to know that they don’t have to suffer in silence and there is specific support available for them if they need it, at toointoyou.ie.”

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.