Suicidal ideation as an additional risk for violence against women residing in shelters: a clinical sample analysis in Hong Kong

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health issue associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation. However, limited research has examined the correlates of suicidal ideation among shelter-seeking women. This study analyzed data from a clinical sample of 597 women who sought services from three major shelters for battered women in Hong Kong between 2020 and 2024. Among the participants, 48.1% reported suicidal ideation, and 21.3% were classified as having high-risk suicidal ideation based on its frequency in the preceding year. Logistic regression analyses identified several factors associated with high-risk suicidal ideation across victim, perpetrator, and family domains. Among participants' characteristics, lower educational attainment, being divorced or separated, chronic illness, and diagnosed mental illness were significantly associated with high-risk suicidal ideation. Perpetrator-related factors, including histories of childhood abuse or neglect, jealousy, and depressive symptoms, were also significantly associated with high-risk suicidal ideation. In addition, family members' chronic illness, mental illness, and gambling problems were associated with high-risk suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the importance of holistic and trauma-informed approaches in shelter settings that consider individual, relational, and family-level circumstances. Future research should further examine these associations over time and explore ways to strengthen shelter-based mental health support for this vulnerable population.