Homicide at home: setting the agenda for an international collaboration to improve support for children bereaved due to family violence

Horn, Stefanie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0506-0116, Hafstad, Gertrud ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1162-6861, Molyneaux, Robyn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2067-9682, Anzil, Verónica ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5968-4898, Bartels, Lasse ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6843-7207, Bui, Eric ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1413-6473, Carmichael, Vicky ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9102-4686, Creupelandt, Coralie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4468-5067, Devaney, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8300-8339, Fernandez, Arnaud ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6326-9096, Gindt, Morgane, Gonçalves, Mariana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6174-0163, Groot, Arend, Haag, Ann-Christin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3865-8727, Harper, Bianca, Joy, Kathryn, Kassam-Adams, Nancy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7412-1428, Kurdi, Zain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0907-4298, Landolt, Markus A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0760-5558, Lenferink, Lonneke I.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1329-6413, Mautner, Katherine, Mullane, Frank, Nachon, Ophélie, Rowlands, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8361-7505, Schwaiger, Theresa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7728-357X, Sklavou, Konstantina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4075-5387, Smid, Geert E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9616-5234, Vasileva, Mira ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6575-0860, Aparici, Eva Zafra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3439-774X, Øverlien, Carolina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6856-3422 and Alisic, Eva ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7225-606X (2026) Homicide at home: setting the agenda for an international collaboration to improve support for children bereaved due to family violence. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 17 (1). doi:10.1080/20008066.2026.2692769

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Abstract

Background: Bereavement due to fatal family violence (e.g. intimate partner homicide, filicide,parricide, siblicide) is a profoundly disruptive experience for children, with lifelongpsychosocial consequences. Although the need for fatal family violence prevention isincreasingly recognised internationally, support for bereaved children in the aftermathremains fragmented, inconsistent and largely dependent on local service availability ratherthan individual needs. Caregivers, often coping with their own grief, face extraordinarydemands without adequate guidance or resources.Objective: This paper seeks to draw attention to the urgent need to focus on childrenbereaved by fatal family violence and develop an international, collaborative agenda thatplaces the voices of young survivors and their caregivers at the centre.Methods: We held a workshop in Caen, Normandy, France, in 2025, to mark the launch of theinternational component of the five-year research programme Homicide at Home: Minimising the Impact on Young Survivors, funded by the Australian National Health and Medical ResearchCouncil. This workshop convened 33 researchers, clinicians, policymakers and advocates,including with lived experience, from 11 countries to develop a roadmap.Results: The envisaged agenda aims to centre the perspectives of people with lived and/orcaregiving experience and comprises three interconnected components: (a) identifyingexisting knowledge, practices and resources; (b) shaping and curating an internationalrepository; and (c) supporting the development of new research. The description of theseelements is intended as both a starting point and an invitation.Conclusions: Fatal family violence leaves behind a significant number of children whose needsare urgent yet under-addressed. By working collectively across disciplines and countries,together with those who are the most affected, we can begin to address the long-termimpact of these traumatic losses. We invite colleagues to join this initiative.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Bereavement; children; domestic homicide; familicide; family violence; intimate partner homicide; lived experience;psychosocial impact;traumatic grief; youngpeople
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology.
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Depositing User:	Charlotte Crutchlow
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2026 16:08
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2026 16:15
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16488

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