Specific characteristics of suicide in China

Authors: Qin P.; Mortensen P.B.

Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Volume 103, Number 2, February 2001 , pp. 117-121(5)

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Abstract:

Objective: The aims of this paper are (i) to describe the specific characteristics of suicide in China and compare it with that in a western country, Denmark; and (ii) to discuss the accuracy of suicide data and the possible explanations for suicide behaviour in China.

Method: Data for the study are obtained from the World Health Statistics Annual based on official records in China and the Danish Cause-of-Death Register, and standardized according to the age-specified population of China in 1990.

Results: The specific characteristics of suicide in China differed strikingly from the general pattern of suicide in other western countries as well as in Denmark: suicide rates in females were higher than in males; rural rates were more than three times higher than urban rates; suicide rates peaked for those aged 75+ years, but with a minor peak in females for those aged 15–24 years old.

Conclusion: These specific characteristics of suicide in China may possibly be interpreted in terms of traditional culture, social forces, political environment and economic status.

Keywords: suicide; Chinese; characteristics; comparison

Language: English

Document Type: Original article

Affiliations: Department of Psychiatric Demography, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, University Hospital in Aarhus, Denmark : *

Publication date: 2001-02-01