Suicide is the leading cause of non-natural deaths in China. Female rates are higher than male rates, & the rural suicide rate is 2.8 times higher than the urban rate. In about two-thirds of cases, family disputes & love disappointments are the precipitants. The higher rate of suicide among women probably reflects the fact that Chinese women are of low social & economic position, & have few social resources to protect them, especially in remote areas. (24 refs.)