Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics of youth suicide in Hong Kong

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores the intrapersonal and sociocultural factors behind youth suicide in Hong Kong. The coroner's court reports of consecutive population-based youth suicide (below age of 25 years,n=303) cases from 1986 to 1992 were reviewed. Compared with other countries, Hong Kong had low male but high female youth suicide rates. The number of undetermined deaths did not significantly affect the estimated suicide rates. Cross-cultural differences in youth suicide rates may be understood from a differential distribution of risk factors and cultural attitudes towards role behaviours and suicide. Youth suicides in Hong Kong were characterised by a high prevalence of psychiatric disturbances and age-normative precipitants; both findings bear great resemblances to samples studied elsewhere. The results were evaluated in light of studies in different sociocultural backgrounds and highlighted the universality and specificity of youth suicide in Hong Kong.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boyd JH, Moscicki EK (1986) Firearms and youth suicide. Am J Public Health 76: 1240–1242

    Google Scholar 

  • Brent DA, Perper JA, Golstein CE, Kolko DJ, Allan MJ, Allman CJ, Zelenak JP (1988) Risk factors for adolescent suicide: a comparison of adolescent suicide victims with suicidal inpatients. Arch Gen Psychiatry 45: 581–588

    Google Scholar 

  • Brent DA, Perper JA, Moritz G, Allman C, Friend A, Roth C, Schweers J, Balach L, Baugher M (1993) Psychiatric risk factors for adolescent suicide: a case-control study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 32: 521–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Census and Statistics Department (1988) Annual digest of statistics, 1988. Hong Kong Government

  • Chia BH (1981) Suicidal behaviour in Singapore. SEAMIC, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung SY, Luk SL, Lieh Mak F (1987) Attempted suicide in children and adolescents in Hong Kong. Soc Psychiatry 22: 102–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health (1986–1989) Annual report of Department of Health, 1986–1989. Hong Kong Government

  • Department of Labour (1992) Annual report of the Commissioner of Labour, 1992. Hong Kong Government

  • Diekstra RFW (1989) Suicide and the attempted suicide: an international perspective. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 80 [Suppl 354]: 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • General Registry (1957) Annual report of General Registry, 1957. Hong Kong Government

  • Goldney RD, Katsikitis M (1983) Cohort analysis of suicide rates in Australia. Arch Gen Psychiatry 40: 71–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Hau KT (1993) Suicide in Hong Kong 1971–1990: age trend, sex ratio, and method of suicide. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 28: 23–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Haynes RH (1984) Suicide in Fiji: a preliminary investigation. Br J Psychiatry 145: 433–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoberman HM, Garfinkel BD (1988) Completed suicide in children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 27: 689–695

    Google Scholar 

  • Holinger PC (1989) Epidemiologic issues in youth suicide. In Pfeffer CR (ed) Suicide among youth: perspectives on risk and prevention. American Psychiatric Press, Washington D.C., pp 41–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Jablensky A (1987) Multicultural studies and the nature of schizophrenia: a review. J R Soc Med 80: 160–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, O'Malley P (1987) Illicit drug use, smoking and drinking by America's high school students and young adults: 1975–1985 NIDA monograph. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville Md.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinman A (1980) Patients and healers in the context of culture. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Klerman GL, Lavori PW, Rice J, Reich T, Endicott J, Andreasen NC, Keller MB, Hirschfield RMA (1985) Birth-cohort trends in rates of major depressive disorder among relatives of patients with affective disorder. Arch Gen Psyhiatry 42: 689–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Kok LP, Tseng WS (1992) Suicidal behaviour in Asia-Pacific regions. Singapore University Press, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosky R (1987) Is suicidal behaviour increasing among Australian vouth? Med J Aust 147: 164–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreitman N (1976) The ocal gas story: United Kingdom suicide rates, 1960–71. Br J Prev Soc Med 30: 86–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Ho TP, Hsu LKG (1992) Fat phobic and non-fat phobic anorexia nervosa: a comparative study of 70 Chinese patients in Hong Kong. Psychol Med 23: 999–1017

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester D (1988) Youth suicide: a cross-cultural perspective. Adolescence 23: 955–958

    Google Scholar 

  • McClure GMG (1984) Recent trends in suicide amongst the young. Br J Psychiatry 144: 134–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Marttunen MJ, Aro HM, Henriksson MM, Lonnqvist JK (1991) Mental disorders in adolescent suicide: DSM-III-R axes I and II diagnoses in suicides among 13- to 19-years-olds in Finland. Arch Gen Psychiatry 48: 834–839

    Google Scholar 

  • Marttunen MJ, Aro HM, Lonnqvist JK (1992) Adolescent suicide: endpoint of long-term difficulties. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 31: 649–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Marttunen MJ, Aro HM, Lennqvist JK (1993) Precipitating stressors in adolescent suicide. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 32: 1178–1183

    Google Scholar 

  • Moens GFG, Haenen W, Van de Voorde H (1988) Epidemiological aspects of suicide among the young in selected European countries. J Epidemiol Community Health 42: 279–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy GE, Wetzel RD (1980) Suicide risk by birth cohort in the United States, 1949 to 1974. Arch Gen Psychiatry 37: 519–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Narcotic Division, Government Secretariat (1993) 1992 survey on drug use among students of secondary schools and technical institutes. Hong Kong, Government

  • Platt S (1984) Unemployment and suicidal behaviour: a review of the literature. Soc Sci Med 19: 93–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich CL, Young D, Fowler RC (1986) San Diego suicide study. I. Young vs old subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43: 577–582

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich CL, Fowler RC, Fogarty LA, Young D (1988) San Diego suicide study. III. Relationships between diagnoses and stressors. Arch Gen Psychiatry 45: 589–592

    Google Scholar 

  • Runeson B (1989) Mental disorder in youth suicide: DSM-III-R axes I and II. Acta Psychiatr Scand 79: 490–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter M (1988) Depressive disorders. In: Rutter et al (eds) Assessment and diagnosis in child psychopathology, David Fulton Publishers, London, pp 347–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruzicka LT (1976) Suicide, 1950 to 1971. World Health Stat Rep 29: 396–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Sainsbury P (1986) The epidemiology of suicide. In: Roy A (ed) Suicide. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 17–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Sainsbury P, Jenkins JS (1982) The accuracy of officially reported suicide statistics for purposes of epidemiological research. J Expidemiol Community Health 36: 43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer D (1974) Suicide in childhood and early adolescence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 15: 275–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer D (1988) The epidemiology of teen suicide: an examination of risk factors. J Clin Psychiatry 49: 9 [Suppl] 36–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer D, Garland A, Gould M, Fisher P, Trautman P (1988) Preventing teenage suicide: a critical review. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 27: 675–687

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafii M, Carrigen S, Whittinghill JR, Derrick A (1985) Psychological autopsy of completed suicide in children and adolescents. Am J Psychiatry 142: 1061–1064

    Google Scholar 

  • Skegg K, Cox B (1991) Suicide in New Zealand 1957–1986: the influence of age, period and birth-cohort. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 25: 181–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon MI, Hellon CP (1980) Suicide and age in Alberta, Canada, 1951 to 1977: a cohort analysis. Arch Gen Psychiatry 37: 511–513

    Google Scholar 

  • Swadi H (1988) Drug and substance use among 3333 London adolescents. Br J Addict 83: 935–942

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson TR (1987) Childhood and adolescent suicide in Manitoba. Can J Psychiatry 32: 264–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Tseng WS, McDermott JF (1982) Culture, mind and therapy: an introduction to cultural psychiatry. Brunnel/Mazel Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tseng WS, Hsu J, Omori A, Mclaughlin DG (1992) Suicidal behaviour in Hawaii. In: Kok LP, Tseng WS (eds) Suicidal behaviour in the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore University Press, Singapore, pp 231–248

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organisation (1989–1992) World Health Statistics Annual. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Yap PM (1958) Suicide in Hong Kong. Br J Psychiatry 126: 266–301

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    T. P. Ho, K. F. Chung & S. Y. Chung

  2. Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong

    S. F. Hung & C. C. Lee

Authors
  1. T. P. Ho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. F. Hung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. C. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. F. Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Y. Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ho, T.P., Hung, S.F., Lee, C.C. et al. Characteristics of youth suicide in Hong Kong. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 30, 107–112 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00802038

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00802038

Keywords

Search

Navigation