In collaboration with our Advisory Board members, Dr. Tina Jiwatram-Negron and Dr. Ran Hu, we recently presented at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) conference in Washington, DC. Dr. Jiwatram-Negron is an associate professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. Her research focuses on GBV and associated health and mental health disparities, as well as community-engaged intervention development within the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Ran Hu is an assistant professor at Ohio State University, where she examines the inequities that contribute to GBV, particularly in the contexts of sex work and human trafficking.
In our poster presentation, we shared preliminary findings from our joint research project, Project Luwas, a qualitative study that explores the link between interpersonal violence and suicide. In this project, we examined the role of integrated interventions addressing the dual risks of GBV and suicidal ideation. Individuals who experience sexual or gender‑based violence face substantially elevated risks of suicidal ideation and attempts, with rates that are several times higher than those found in general population. Sexual violence has been repeatedly identified as one of the strongest predictors of suicidal ideation and attempts. Despite the interconnection between these two issues, many services do not involve an integrated approach.
Study results demonstrated the need for streamlined interventions addressing these dual risks, including integrated safety planning and strategies to support survivor awareness of the linkages between experiences of GBV and suicidal behavior. Survivors emphasized the value of integrated approaches and the importance of deploying multilevel strategies as essential to advancing more responsive, survivor-centered care. As a next step in our collaboration, we will continue to partner with Drs. Jiwatram-Negron and Hu to develop a package of integrated, trauma-informed intervention approaches aimed at more effectively reducing risks for both violence and suicide.
