Immigrant women in a violent marriage in Australia appear to be much more at risk of suicidal behaviour, suggests Melbourne research.
This is due to their inability to find a route to self-empowerment coupled with visa and residency issues, psychiatrist Dr Mamjula O'Connor says.
"The women have to be empowered and educated at the point of entry into the country about where to go for help and get access to support services at the right time."
She was speaking to AAP after addressing a session of the annual conference of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in Hong Kong.
Globally, domestic violence has been connected to suicidal behaviours, with one Australian study showing it was linked in 35 per cent of cases.
Dr O'Connor and Dr Samir Ibrahim compared Melbourne data on a group from the Indian sub-continent and another from the Middle East, who were subjected to domestic violence.
Three-quarters of the first group were suicidal when seen for psychiatric treatment while all of the other group were.
Actual suicide attempts were higher at 40 per cent in the Mid-East group, compared to 17 per cent in the Indian group.
The two psychiatrists treated them for depression, PTSD and anxiety disorder, but once their mental health improved their suicidal thoughts remained but their attempts ceased.
Those with the highest suicide ideation were those married with children, who were being abused physically or verbally almost daily.
The women who had a decrease in suicidal thoughts were those who had separated and gone back to study or work.
Dr O'Connor said the domestic violence included emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse which could involve dowries.
"Exorbitant demands for cash in particular from the new bride, associated with humiliating critical remarks of her and her family is associated with suicidal ideation and domestic violence," she said.
This was found in half the Indian group as well as in other domestic violence patients seen by her.
"When a woman presents to a doctor with suicidal thoughts, they must think of family violence first," she said.
* The writer travelled to Hong Kong courtesy of the RANZCP
* For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
* National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.
