How Economic Abuse Leads to Deaths in Domestic Violence

A shocking new report has uncovered the deadly toll of economic abuse within intimate partner relationships. According to the charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA), financial abuse by a partner is a factor in more than half of deaths related to domestic violence.

The report found that economic abuse, such as restricting access to money, sabotaging employment, or incurring debt in a partner's name, contributes to one death every 19 days from either homicide or suicide. This highlights how financial control and exploitation can have devastating consequences, often going overlooked or misunderstood.

{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}

Economic abuse is a form of domestic abuse that involves controlling a victim's ability to acquire, use, and maintain economic resources, ultimately leaving them dependent on their abuser. This can take many forms, including preventing someone from working, stealing their money, or running up debts in their name.

Tragically, this financial manipulation and coercion can trap victims in abusive relationships and prevent them from leaving, as they may lack the economic means or stability to do so. The report underscores how economic abuse is a significant risk factor for lethality in domestic violence cases.

{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}

According to SEA, the true scale of economic abuse and its deadly impact is often underestimated, as it is frequently overlooked by authorities and support services. Improving awareness and understanding of this issue is crucial to protecting vulnerable individuals and addressing the root causes of domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. In the UK and Ireland, you can contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123 or via email. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, or chat on 988lifeline.org. International helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}