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Suicide rates in China during a decade of rapid social changes

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

China accounts for more than 30% of the world's suicides and displays a unique pattern of suicide rates. Prior research had established the link between macrosocial changes and suicide. Comprehensive surveillance system of suicide in this rapidly developing country is much needed. This paper examined the trends of national-, region-, gender-, and age-specific suicide rates, and male to female ratios in suicide in China for the period of 1991–2000, which was a time that rapid economic and social changes took place.

Methods

A regression model was used to detect any variations in national-, region-, gender-, and age-specific suicide rates and gender ratios reported by the most recent mortality statistics from China's Ministry of Health.

Results

National, urban, and rural suicide rates for both men and women decreased significantly for the period of 1991–2000; age-specific suicide rates, however, showed that there were different patterns of changes in suicide rates in rural and urban areas. Although elderly suicide rates showed the most significant decrease in urban areas, younger women showed the largest decrease in rural areas; male to female gender ratio in suicide increased significantly in the urban areas, but no significant change was found in rural areas.

Conclusions

Possible explanations that may account for the downward trends in suicide rates and increase in male to female gender ratio in urban area were provided. Longer historical studies are needed to reveal the relationship between macrosocial changes and the pattern of suicide.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful for the information supplied by the Ministry of Health of Peoples' Republic of China. We would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments. The work was supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Hong Kong, Flat 3B, University Drive 2, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Paul S. F. Yip & Ka Y. Liu

  2. Ministry of Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China

    Jianping Hu

  3. Institute of Demography, Peking University, Peking, China

    X. M. Song

Authors
  1. Paul S. F. Yip
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  2. Ka Y. Liu
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  3. Jianping Hu
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  4. X. M. Song
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Yip, P.S.F., Liu, K.Y., Hu, J. et al. Suicide rates in China during a decade of rapid social changes. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 40, 792–798 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0952-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0952-8

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