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 […]

Mediation of Internet addiction on association between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behaviours among Chinese adolescents

Aims: The associations between suicidal behaviours and childhood maltreatment (CM), as well as Internet addiction (IA) have been extensively examined. However, few studies pay attention to different types of CM and all stages of suicidality, including suicidal ideation (SI), suicidal plans (SP) and suicidal attempts (SA). Moreover, little is known regarding the mediation of IA […]

“I thought that I had to be alive to repay my parents”: Filial piety as a risk and protective factor for suicidal behavior in a qualitative study of Chinese women

Filial piety involves the Confucian view that children always have a duty to be obedient and to provide care for their parents. Filial piety has been described as both a risk and a protective factor in depression and suicide. This qualitative study aimed to explore the role of filial piety in the suicidal behavior of […]

A large sample survey of suicide risk among university students in China

Background: This study aimed to examine suicide ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide risk by examining a large sample of Chinese university students and identify the predictive factors, including depressive and anxiety symptoms, for suicide attempt and suicide risk. Methods: We recruited 6,836 students (aged 18-30) based on all students enrolled in 2016 from one university using cluster […]

Testing the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior in Chinese adolescents

The integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior (IMV; O’Connor & Kirtley, 2018) integrates some key factors of suicidal behavior (e.g., defeat and entrapment) to explain the development of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts. This study aimed to empirically test this model in a sample of Chinese adolescents. A number of 1,239 Chinese adolescents (679 girls; Mage = 14.07, SD = 1.54) […]

The changes and the predictors of suicidal ideation among HIV-positive sexual minority men: A five-year longitudinal study from China.

This study aimed to explore whether there were differences in suicidal ideation at different time points among sexual minority men (SMM) within five years of HIV diagnosis, and to investigate the influence of time and psychosocial variables on suicidal ideation. This was a five-year follow-up study focusing on the suicidal ideation among HIV-positive SMM who […]

The stigmatization of suicide: A study of stories told by colleges students in China.

This study unpacks the dimensions of suicide stigma through an analysis of the stories told by college students in China. The phronetic iterative approach was used to analyze the interview data of 30 college students. Findings showed that college students use the strategy of othering in creating a distinction between us and them. Those who […]

Network structure of depression and anxiety symptoms in Chinese female nursing students

Background Comorbidity between depressive and anxiety disorders is common. From network perspective, mental disorders arise from direct interactions between symptoms and comorbidity is due to direct interactions between depression and anxiety symptoms. The current study investigates the network structure of depression and anxiety symptoms in Chinese female nursing students and identifies the central and bridge […]

Perceived suicide stigma and associated factors in Chinese college students: Translation and validation of the stigma of suicide attempt scale and the stigma of suicide and suicide survivors scale

This study aims to translate and validate two perceived suicide stigma scales, including the Stigma of Suicide Attempt Scale (STOSA) and the Stigma of Suicide and Suicide Survivor Scale (STOSASS) into Chinese language, examining the factor structure, and assessing the correlation between suicide stigma and a series of variables. After translating and back translating the […]

Bullying victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese left-behind children: Mediating effect of loneliness and moderating effect of gender

Bullying victimization has long been a public health issue among left-behind children in China. Although prior studies have confirmed the negative effects of being bullied on suicidal ideation, the mechanism of how being bullied triggers suicidal ideation and whether this varies with gender difference is still unknown. To address this research gap, the mediating effect […]

Suicide rates declined in China: the social, cultural and economic factors

The suicide rates in the world have been growing in the past century [1] and the rates in the United States have rapidly increased by about 33%, from 10.5 per 100,000 population in 1999 to 14.0 in 2017 [2], regardless of prevention efforts with affluent funding [3]. On the other hand, the overall suicide rate […]

Prevalence of depression, anxiety and suicide among men who have sex with men in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims. Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for depression, anxiety and suicide. The estimated prevalence of these problems is essential to guide public health policy, but published results vary. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and suicide among Chinese MSM. Methods. Systematic searches […]

Association of internet addiction with nonsuicidal self-injury among adolescents in China

Importance  Both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), defined as the direct, deliberate damage of one’s body tissue without suicidal intent, and internet addiction among adolescents are public health concerns. However, the possible association of NSSI with internet addiction is not well understood. Objective  To examine the occurrence of internet addiction with NSSI and any sex differences among […]

A comparison between American and Chinese college students on suicide-related behavior parameters

Background/Objective: The United States (US) and China are the two largest economies, but recent and directly comparable studies on suicide-related behaviors in the two countries are lacking. By using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), item-level comparison was performed in assessing self-reported suicide-related behaviors between the US and Chinese undergraduates. Method: This study involved a total […]

Posttraumatic stress symptoms and attitude toward crisis mental health services among clinically stable patients with COVID-19 in China

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been rapidly transmitted globally. With the increasing number of infected cases and deaths, many patients experienced both physical suffering and great psychological distress. In China, a range of guidelines and expert consensus have been developed by health authorities and academic associations. Crisis mental health interventions, such as online education […]

Loneliness, hopelessness and suicide in later life: A case-controlled psychological autopsy study in rural China

Aims: Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a serious public health issue worldwide. However, there is scarce research addressing the association between loneliness and suicide in older adults in rural China. We set out to examine loneliness and other psychosocial factors in elderly suicide cases and explore their interaction effects. Methods: Using a 1 : 1 matched case-control […]

Association of ADHD symptoms, depression and suicidal behaviors with anxiety in Chinese medical college students

Background Anxiety is one of the most common psychiatric disorder and imposes a great burden on both the individual and the society. Previous studies indicate a high comorbidity of anxiety disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, few studies have examined the comorbidity of anxiety and ADHD among medical college students in mainland China. […]

A study of the characteristics of suicide notes in China

Background: Suicide notes in China are rarely studied and seldom available. Aims: This study examines the characteristics of suicide note leavers and analyzes the contents of their suicide notes for the period of 2004-2016 in Pudong, Shanghai, which has more than 5.5 million inhabitants. Method: The characteristics of the note leavers (n = 458) and those who left no notes (n = […]

Physical illnesses and medically serious suicide attempts in rural China

Background: Physical illness is a strong correlate of suicidal behavior. However, its impact on attempted suicide in rural China is under-studied. Aims: This study was designed to assess the influence of physical illness on risk of suicide attempts and to identify distinguishing characteristics among medically serious suicide attempters with physical illnesses from those without. Method: Participants were medically serious suicide […]

Gender differences among medically serious suicide attempters aged 15-54 years in rural China

China is one of few countries which reported higher female suicide rates in the worldwide. However, little is known about the gender differences among Chinese rural suicide attempters. This study aims to analyze the gender differences among medically serious suicide attempters aged 15–54 years in rural China. Subjects were 791 medically serious suicide attempters and […]

Nonfatal suicidal behaviors of Chinese rural-to-urban migrant workers: Attitude toward suicide matters

Objective To examine the attitude toward suicide (ATS) and its influence on nonfatal suicidal behaviors of Chinese rural‐to‐urban migrant workers (MWs). Method Altogether, 3031 MWs completed the positive ATS Scale and structured questions regarding lifetime suicide ideation, plan, and attempt. Mental health help‐seeking behaviors of MWs were also investigated. Results Overall, MWs held a more […]

The prevalence, metabolic disturbances and clinical correlates of recent suicide attempts in Chinese inpatients wiht major depressive disorder.

Background: Metabolic disturbances have been correlated with suicidality, but little is known about the association between suicide risk and metabolic disturbances among individuals with depression. This study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical correlations, especially cardio-metabolic associated factors of recent suicide attempts in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: A total of […]

Chronic disease, disability, psychological distress and suicide ideation among rural elderly: Results from a population survey in Shandong.