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Women who experience sexual assault in childhood or adulthood are more likely to attempt or commit suicide than other women. The association remains, even after controlling for sex, age, education, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and the presence of psychiatric disorders. The experience of being raped or sexually assaulted can lead to suicidal behaviour as early as adolescence.

• In Ethiopia, 6% of raped schoolgirls reported having attempted suicide. (1)
• A study of adolescents in Brazil found prior sexual abuse to be a leading factor predicting several health risk behaviours, including suicidal thoughts and attempts. (2)

Experiences of severe sexual harassment can also result in emotional disturbances and suicidal behaviour.

• A study of female adolescents in Canada found that 15% of those experiencing frequent, unwanted sexual contact had exhibited suicidal behaviour in the previous 6 months, compared with 2% of those who had not had such harassment. (3)

Excerpted from World Report on Violence and Health, WHO (2002)

References

1. Mulugeta et al, Prevalence and outcomes of sexual violence among high school students, Ethiopian Medical Journal, 1998,36:167-174
2. Anteghini et al. Health risk behaviours and associated risk and protective factors among Brazilian adolescents in Santos, Brazil. Journal of Adolescent Health 2001, 28:295-302
3. Bagly et al Sexual Assault in school, mental health and suicidal behaviors in adolescent women in Canada. Adolescence, 1997, 32:361-366.

• Dating violence, sexual assault, and suicide attempts among urban teenagers.  Olshen E, McVeigh KH, Wunsch-Hitzig RA, Rickert VI. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med; 161(6): 539-45. 2007