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Suicide in China

Every year, 2-3.5 million Chinese


attempt to take their own lives.

Every year, 280,000 of them


succeed.
What causes suicidal behavior?

Who is at risk?

What effects does suicide have on China’s


society and economy?

How do the Chinese government and


people view suicide?

What can be done to prevent suicide?


Causes of Suicidal Ideation and Execution

• Culturally Motivated Suicide

• Personally Motivated Suicide

– Untreated mental illness: Schizophrenia, Bipolar


Disorder, etc.

– Depression
Depression
• Chemical Imbalance in Brain

• Physiological Response to Negative External


Events

• Genetics

• Surreality, Disengagement

• Suicidal Ideation, Attempt


Treating Depression
• Extremely Treatable

• Medications – controversial

• Therapy

• Counseling

• Recreation/Creativity
Who is at Risk?
• Common Stereotype?

• Students

• Young Professionals

• Rural Women
Students
• One-Child Policy

• High Pressure from School

• Social Support Structure

• Time Consumption – Little Recreational Time

• Relationship Issues
Young Professionals
• Job Market

• Lowered Expectations/Jaded Reality

• Away from Home

• Constant Uncertainty

• “Replaceable Parts”
Rural Women
• 90% of Suicides

• Urbanization

• One Child Policy

• Little Healthcare Infrastructure

• Pesticide Access
Effects on Society

• “Chain Reaction” Effect

• 6-Person Rule

• 15 Million Affected Seek Psychological


Attention

• 135,000 Children Suffer from Parental


Suicide
Effects on Economy
• Suicide strikes at China’s most valuable citizens

• Young Professionals and Intellectuals

• Students

• Rural Women

• $3.5 Billion Dollars per Year, second only to USA


Social Perception of Suicide
• Taboo on Psychological Disorders

• Social Irresponsibility, not genuine affliction

• Less Stigma on Suicide, especially in Rural Areas

• Increasingly coming to realize severity of the


epidemic
Government Response
• Slow

• Studies Being Conducted on Causes of Suicide

• 19 Suicide Intervention Institutes Nationwide

• 1/10 Calls is Picked Up

• No Ambulance Access
Proposals for Action?
• We’ve seen in brief the effects and causes of
suicide in China. Now it’s time to devise a plan of
action.

• Government Response:

– Economic

– Social

– Political
Final Word
• Towards the end of the semester.

• Seen many effects from China’s rapid


development – good and bad.

• Take-home message?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Peace and Happiness
are all that we really need,
all that we truly want…

…and they have no price


tag
Works Cited
• http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=20080623-000004&page=1
• http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-09/11/content_6095710.htm
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/jul/26/china.jonathanwatts
• http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2004/nf2004112_8277_db065.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5322a6.htm
• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-struggles-to-cope-with-suicide-
epidemic-507383.html
• http://www.china.org.cn/health/2008-09/10/content_16424200.htm
• http://focus.hms.harvard.edu/1998/Feb6_1998/socmed.html
• http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24774261-401,00.html
• http://www.spiorg.org/suicide_china.html
• http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/business/worldbusiness/23suicide.html?fta=y
• http://www.feministing.com/archives/007711.html
• http://english.people.com.cn/200211/28/eng20021128_107637.shtml
• http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cebn/eng/zgxw/t362950.htm

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