Suicide has become a major public health issue throughout the world. Over a million people kill themselves every year, and more than half of these cases occur in Asia (WHO 2003). Suicide is especially a major concern in Asia due to its huge population and the relatively high suicide rate compared to that in Western countries. In response to the growing concern, the aim of this monograph is to provide an informative account of suicide in some Asian countries/societies to arouse more awareness of suicide in Asia so that more research and prevention efforts will be carried out.

Asia consists...

This chapter provides an epidemiological profile of suicide in Japan, which has one of the highest suicide rates in Asia. Suicide rates in Japan have increased significantly over the past decade, with a rate of 23.1 per 100,000 in 2003. Suicide rates have increased with age. The gender (male and female) ratio was about 2.6 to 1. Rural areas have a higher rate than that of urban areas. Depression is commonly found to be present among those who commit suicide and has been shown to be work related. Some implemented measures for suicide prevention are discussed.

The average annual number...

South Korea’s suicide rate has increased steadily in the past two decades, reaching 24.0 per 100,000 per year in 2003. It is one of the highest rates in Asia, and the pattern (by age and sex) is similar to that in Japan. This chapter examines the applicability of the theory of Durkheim, based on two dimensions (social integration and social regulation), for understanding suicide in South Korea. Implications for preventing suicide in Korea are discussed.

One of the troubling issues in modern South Korea is the increasing suicide rate. The suicide rate in 1982 was 6.8 per100,000 people per year,...

Suicide is an important public health problem in China: it is the fifth leading cause of death, and over 30% of the world’s suicide deaths take place in China. The substantial burden caused by suicide has not been well recognized. This chapter gives an epidemiological description of the suicide rates in China. There are many significant differences between suicide rates in China and the West, including a low gender ratio (male: female), a high rural suicide rate, and a high elderly suicide rate, especially among women. We discuss the roles of cultural and socioeconomic factors in explaining these unique features...

The suicide rate in Hong Kong remained stable up until the mid-1990s. Since then, it has increased significantly. This study aims to examine changes in the Hong Kong suicide rate over the period 1993–2003 and discuss possible impacts on the community. It is a retrospective study based on the registered death files of suicide deaths in Hong Kong. In 2003, Hong Kong showed a 25% increase in suicide rates since 1997, with a rate of 18.6 per 100,000, which is a historical high. This increasing trend is worrying. In 2003, suicide ranked as the sixth leading cause of death...

Based on suicide records after 1983, Taiwan’s lowest suicide rate (6.2 per 100,000) was in 1993, but the rate has continuously increased to the world’s average of 14.1 per 100,000 in 2003 and up to 18.8 in 2005 and 19.3 in 2006. Taiwan’s increasing suicide rate trend is one of the most rapid and substantial, compared with other developing economies in the western Pacific region. The varying suicide rates of gender, age, methods, marital status, and other related factors are examined based primarily on the data from 1983 to 2003. Hanging and poisoning have been the two most commonly used...

Thailand has a relatively low suicide rate compared with several other Asian countries, with a rate of 6.8 per 100,000. However, the rate has also increased significantly in the past five years. The age group of 25–44 years had the highest rate. There is a significant geographical difference in suicide rates. The relatively deprived regions — north and central Thailand — have a higher suicide rate than that of the south. Apparently, religion has been a protective factor of suicide in Thailand. Some suicide prevention programs in Thailand are discussed.

Thailand has a relatively low suicide rate compared with several other...

The suicide rate in Singapore has remained steady between 1993–2003, ranging from 8–12 per 100,000. The male: female suicide ratio is approximately 1.7:1 with jumping being the most common method of suicide. Ethnic Indians have the highest teenage suicide rate, whereas ethnic Chinese have a highest older adult rate. The ethnic Malay suicide rate is extremely low. Marriage has been shown to be a protective factor (especially in males) with the widowed or divorced being at higher risk. Life-stressors associated with suicide vary with age with relationship and study stress more predominant in the young, financial problems in...

Over 100,000 persons die by suicide in India every year. The suicide rate — increased by 64% from 6.4 per 100,000 in 1982 to 10.5 per 100,000 in 2002. The male-female ratio is consistently low at 1.5 to 1. About 38% of suicides in India are committed by persons below 30 years of age. Poisoning, hanging, and selfimmolation (setting fire to oneself) were the common methods used to commit suicide. The crucial and causal role of depression in suicide has limited validity in India, whereas alcoholism emerges as a significant risk factor. Less than 10% of persons who had committed suicide...

Suicide has become a worldwide public health concern. The situation is more serious in Asia in terms of the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) (WHO 2002). It is estimated that about 2.5% of loss of DALY is due to suicide and deliberate self-harm, and it is highest among different regions. We have selected eight countries/societies in the Asian region for our monograph, which, in total, cover nearly 50% of the world’s population and more than 50% of suicides. For example, in China, the most highly populated country, it is estimated that more than 250,000 people commit suicide every year. Evidence suggests...