Suicide In China

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-suicideepidemic-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