Drawing from English- & Chinese-language sources as well as their own research experience, the authors briefly describe the changing epidemiological patterns of mental illness in China & demonstrate that an understanding of the political upheavals & uneven socioeconomic transformations that have occurred there is essential for making sense of these changes. Recent studies have drawn attention to high rates of suicide in China. The World Bank (1993) estimated that up to 42% of all suicides that occur in the world each year take place in China. Reasons for the high suicide rate in China, especially among females, are discussed. (21 refs.)