Suicide among stalkers

Abstract

Although stalkers present with multiple suicide risk factors, there have been no studies of the prevalence of suicide within this at risk group. In this study, 138 stalkers were followed up over three years using national coronial records and relative risk ratios used to compare rates of completed suicide with those in the Australian general population, psychiatric patients, and community-based offenders. Stalkers committed suicide at significantly higher rates than any of the comparison groups. Clinicians working with individuals who stalk must be mindful of the risk stalkers pose to themselves, in addition to their victims, and incorporate suicide risk assessments and crisis management into treatment.

Keywords:

• stalking
• suicide
• risk factors