Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death overall in China and the leading cause of death in persons aged 15-34 years (1). During 1995-1999, approximately 287,000 persons died each year from suicide, a national rate of 23 per 100,000 population (1). In addition, an estimated 2 million suicide attempts occur each year (2). To characterize suicides and attempted suicides in China, analyses were conducted of 1) a psychological autopsy study comparing suicides with other injury deaths ...
<52.5) 469 (53.2)
Severe life event during 2 days preceding death 224 (25.4)
Chronic stress score during year preceding death
Lowest tertile 125 (14.2)
Middle tertile 322 (36.5)
Highest tertile 435 (49.3)
Friends or associates had suicidal behavior 334 (37.9)
Relative had suicidal behavior 154 (17.5)
Employment status
Wage earner or student 149 (16.9)
Homemaker, retiree, or unemployed 210 (23.8)
Agricultural laborer 523 (59.3)
Social activities outside of home during month preceding death
Very frequent 282 (32.0)
Often 159 (18.0)
Infrequent 222 (25.2)
None 219 (24.8)
Deaths by
other injuries
Risk factor No. (%)
Severity of depression during 2 weeks preceding death (range: 0-100)
0 616 (89.9)
1-25.4 60 (8.8)><52.5) 82 (12.0)
Severe life event during 2 days preceding death 23 (3.4)
Chronic stress score during year preceding death
Lowest tertile 386 (56.4)
Middle tertile 212 (30.9)
Highest tertile 87 (12.7)
Friends or associates had suicidal behavior 138 (20.1)
Relative had suicidal behavior 37 (5.4)
Employment status
Wage earner or student 280 (40.9)
Homemaker, retiree, or unemployed 86 (12.6)
Agricultural laborer 319 (46.6)
Social activities outside of home during month preceding death
Very frequent 391 (57.1)
Often 98 (14.3)
Infrequent 91 (13.3)
None 105 (15.3)
AOR
Risk factor ([section])
Severity of depression during 2 weeks preceding death (range: 0-100)
0 1.0
1-25.4 6.4><52.5) 6.7
Severe life event during 2 days preceding death 6.1
Chronic stress score during year preceding death
Lowest tertile 1.0
Middle tertile 2.1
Highest tertile 4.3
Friends or associates had suicidal behavior 2.9
Relative had suicidal behavior 2.3
Employment status
Wage earner or student 1.0
Homemaker, retiree, or unemployed 2.0
Agricultural laborer 2.0
Social activities outside of home during month preceding death
Very frequent 1.0
Often 1.2
Infrequent 1.5
None 1.9
(95% CI
Risk factor ([paragraph])
Severity of depression during 2 weeks preceding death (range: 0-100)
0
1-25.4 (4.4-9.3)>