Assessing suicide attempts and depression among Chinese speakers over the Internet

Background: In populations where mental health resources are scarce or unavailable, or where stigma prevents help-seeking, the Internet may be a way to identify and reach at-risk persons using self-report validated screening tools as well as to characterize individuals seeking health information online. Aims: We examined the feasibility of delivering an Internet-based Chinese-language depression and suicide screener […]

Suicidal ideation and familicidal-suicidal ideation among individuals presenting to problem gambling services: A retrospective data analysis

Background: Studies have consistently reported high rates of suicidal ideation (SI) among individuals with disordered gambling. None have explored gambling-related familicidal-suicidal ideation (FSI). Aims: This study examined the (1) prevalence of SI and FSI among treatment-seeking gamblers in Hong Kong, (2) characteristic profile of factors associated with SI and FSI, and (3) factors that predict SI and […]

Temporal and computerized psycholinguistic analysis of the blog of a Chinese adolescent suicide

Background: Text analysis of personal documents provides insight into the cognition of those who complete suicide. Many personal documents are digitalized and easily found on the Internet, which can be used to advance suicide research. Aims: (1) To examine the temporal relationships between posting intensity and language use to sketch the suicidal process of a young man […]

Responses to a self-presented suicide attempt in social media: A social network analysis

Background: The self-presentation of suicidal acts in social media has become a public health concern. Aims: This article centers on a Chinese microblogger who posted a wrist-cutting picture that was widely circulated in Chinese social media in 2011. This exploratory study examines written reactions of a group of Chinese microbloggers exposed to the post containing a self-harming […]

Indepth interviews with 244 female suicide attempters and their associates in Northern China: Understanding the process and causes of the attempt

Background: Attempted suicide, a deliberate self-directed behavior situated within the unique social world of an individual, is a major risk factor for suicide. Efforts aimed at addressing female suicide must be based on understanding their perceived causes and the meaning of this behavior. Aims: This study describes the perceived causes of suicidal behaviors to determine preventive measures of […]

Suicidal ideation and its correlates in prisoners: A comparative study in China

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of prisoners’ death, and, as a group, inmates have higher suicide rates than their community counterparts. However, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Chinese inmates and their risks of suicide remain unknown. Aims: This study investigates the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Chinese incarcerated populations and its risk and […]

Validity of proxy-based reports of impulsivity and aggression in Chinese research on suicidal behavior

Background: In studies about the risk factors for suicidal behavior, the assessment of impulsiveness and aggression often depend on information from proxy informants. Aims: To assess the validity of proxy informants’ reports on impulsiveness and aggression in China. Methods: Modified Chinese versions of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-CV) and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ-CV) were administered to 131 […]

Meaning in life as a protective factor against suicidal tendencies in Chinese university students

Background A substantial increase in rates of suicide worldwide, especially among late adolescents and young adults, has been observed. It is important to identify specific risk and protective factors for suicide-related behaviors among late adolescents and young adults. Identifying specific factors across the masses, not only in the Western, but also in the Asian context, […]

Analysis of psychiatric symptoms and suicide risk among younger adults in China by gender identity and sexual orientation

Importance  Younger adults in China who are transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) and lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) experience high levels of minority stress (eg, stigma and bullying) and adverse mental health symptoms. However, there is a lack of research documenting mental health disparities compared with their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Studies that disaggregate TGNC and […]

Analysis of psychiatric symptoms and suicide risk among younger adults in China by gender identity and sexual orientation

Importance  Younger adults in China who are transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) and lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) experience high levels of minority stress (eg, stigma and bullying) and adverse mental health symptoms. However, there is a lack of research documenting mental health disparities compared with their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Studies that disaggregate TGNC and […]

Mental health and suicide awareness study between national and international students of Northwest Normal University, P.R. China

The present study aimed to compare mental health and suicide awareness among national and international students in Northwest Normal University, P. R. China. It was hypothesized that there would be gender differences between mental health and suicide awareness among national and international students. Mental health and suicidal awareness questionnaire were used to measure the level […]

Perceived stress from interpersonal relations predicts suicidal ideation in Chinese university students: Roles of meaning in life and coping humor

Existing studies emphasize that interpersonal relationships are closely associated with the increased risk of suicidal ideation (SI). However, the mechanism underlying this association remains poorly understood. In this study, we  investigated how and under what conditions the perceived stress from interpersonal relations links to SI. Also we explored the possible important roles of meaning in […]

The lived experience of family members of older people who have died by suicide in rural China

Aim The aim of the study is to provide insight and facilitate a deeper understanding of family members who have experienced their older family member’s suicide. Design Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study. Methods Semi-structured individual interviews with five family members of older people who died by suicide recruited from a rural area of Shanxi Province, […]

School connectedness and psychological resilience as mediators in the relationship between childhood abuse and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents

Background: Suicide among adolescents is a huge public health concern around the world. Although childhood abuse has been established as a substantial risk factor for suicide behaviours, potential mediators in this relationship remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating roles of school connectedness and psychological resilience in the association between childhood abuse […]

Self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in Chinese adolescents involved in different sub-types of bullying: A cross-sectional study

Background: Bullying tends to peak during adolescence, and it is an important risk factor of self-harm and suicide. However, research on the specific effect of different sub-types of bullying is limited. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between four common forms of bullying (verbal, physical, relational, and cyber) and self-harm, suicidal ideation […]

Trends of suicide rates by gender and residence in China from 2002 to 2019

Objective: China has undergone tremendous social changes in the last few decades. This study aimed to research the trends of the suicide rates from 2002 to 2019, and to differentiate effects attributable to age, period, and cohort by gender and residence in China. Methods: Suicide mortality data were obtained from China’s Ministry of Health Vital Registration System. […]

Family unity or money? The roles of parent-child cohesion and socioeconomic status in the relationship between stressful life events and nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese left-behind children

Objective Chinese left-behind children have faced a high level of stress and tend to engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior. However, the impacts of parental migration on NSSI are complex. The improved family’s socioeconomic status (SES) could have positive impacts on these children’s mental health, yet the parental absence could have negative influences. To explore […]

Suicide ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt among left-behind children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective There are an increasing number of studies that discussed suicide ideation (SI), suicide plan (SP), and suicide attempt (SA) among left-behind children (LBC). However, the prevalence of these indicators of LBC has not been synthesized and the true correlation between these indicators and left-behind status remains unclear. Methods Electronic databases were comprehensively searched, and […]

Mortality among psychiatric inpatients in China: A national survey

Background: Patients with mental disorders are at increased risk of premature mortality. Psychiatric inpatients are a particularly vulnerable population, yet data on the mortality rate and causes of death among psychiatric inpatients in a national sample are scarce. Methods: We analyzed data collected from patients who died during psychiatric hospitalization in 2019 and 2020 from 41 psychiatric […]

Understanding the reasons for suicide among older adults in rural China using in-depth interviews

Background: Suicide is a complex public health problem. Suicide rates are higher in rural areas than in urban areas and among older adults than any other age group in China. Aims: This study aimed to acquire a comprehensive understanding of rural older adults’ reasons for suicide through qualitative exploration and to provide additional insights for suicide prevention work. Method: In-depth […]

Self-stigma and its relationship with rates of depression diagnosis: A study of suicide notes in Shanghai and Wuhan, China

Background: Self-stigma about suicide might impede people seeking help from mental health professionals. There is little research about self-stigma expressed by suicide decedents. Aims: We aimed to explore (a) self-stigma about suicide through examination of suicide notes; and (b) whether the expression of self-stigma was associated with the formal diagnoses of depression. Method: Data were extracted from notes left by […]

More depression-related public concern after the suicide of a pop star in China: Evidence from the online big data platform

Background: In China, we have seen dramatic increases in public concern over depression and mental health after the suicide of some famous persons. The objective of this study is to investigate the changes of search-engine query patterns to monitor this phenomenon based on the tragic suicide of a young Chinese pop star, Kimi Qiao. Methods: The daily […]

Suicide research in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau over three decades: A scoping review

Background: China accounts for 15% of the global suicide death toll, yet suicide research efforts in the country are not well known by international colleagues. Aims: We aimed to outline the development of suicide research in China, appraise research findings, and identify key contributors. Method: English and Chinese research publication databases were systematically searched and relevant papers were reviewed. Chinese […]