Suicide in Asia

Abstract

Suicide is a major problem worldwide, and suicides in Asian countries account for as much as 60% of all suicides in the world. There are many unique features in suicides within this ethnically-diverse continent, from the methods used, to the putative risk factors. Much research still needs to be done to guide efficacious and culturally relevant interventions in suicide prevention; existing literature suggests a strong focus for programmes that address restricting access to pesticides, increasing crisis counseling activities, improving the accessibility and delivery of mental health services, and promoting responsible media reporting of suicide and related issues. There is a need for coordinated national suicide plans to be developed that are sensitive to the socioeconomic and cultural factors in the local context.

Differences between Impulsive and Non-Impulsive Suicide Attempts among Individuals Treated in Emergency Rooms of South Korea

“…Additionally, in order to reduce the incidence of death by impulsive suicide, lethal suicide methods, which can be encountered when one feels sudden inclinations to commit suicide, should be less accessible. 3 35 36 37 38 …”

Mortality by suicide: a focus on municipalities with a high proportion of self-reported indigenous people in the state of Amazonas, Brazil

“…The similarity between the profile of people who committed suicide in the selected municipalities and of those in Manaus, with regard to bigger proportions of men and single people, shows nothing out of the expected. Apart from some exceptions, as in some Asian contexts, in which married women commit suicide the most 26 , the preponderance of single men among suicidals is common in almost all the investigated scenarios 25 .…”

Attitudes and Perceptions of Suicide and Suicide Prevention Messages for Asian Americans

“…Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults and is one of the most pressing public health issues across much of the world. Suicides in Asian countries constitute about 60% of suicides in the world (Wei and Chua) [ 1 ], with Sri Lanka, Japan and South Korea representing the Asian countries having the highest rates of suicide (Hendin et al ) [ 2 ]. By contrast, in the U.S., there is a considerable variation across minority populations with regard to suicide risk (Goldston et al [ 3 ]; Joe, Canetto and Romer [ 4 ]; Walker, Townley and Asiamah [ 5 ]).…”

“…A study conducted on hospitalized suicide attempters in Singapore concluded that interpersonal problems were the most common risk factors (Mak, Ho, Chua and Ho [ 33 ]). In China and India, suicide appears to be weakly linked to depression and more strongly linked to acute life stressors (Wei and Chua [ 1 ]). In some South Asian countries with higher rates of suicide, suicides are commonly preceded by family abuse, arguments and conflicts with intimates and in-laws, and unreciprocated love (Chua [ 34 ]; Halliburton [ 35 ]; Marecek [ 25 ]; Widger [ 36 ]).…”