The association of trends in charcoal-burning suicide with Google search and newspaper reporting in Taiwan: a time series analysis

Abstract

We found that increased Internet searches for charcoal-burning suicide appeared to be associated with a subsequent increase in suicide by this method. The prevention of suicide using emerging methods may include monitoring and regulating online information that provides details of these methods as well as encouraging Internet service providers to provide help-seeking information.

Spatial and temporal evolution of the epidemic of charcoal-burning suicide in Japan

“…Suicides by this method were previously rare in both countries, but within 5 years charcoal burning became the second most common method of suicide and possibly contributed to a rise in overall suicide rates. Media coverage as well as online discussion forums on the internet assisted in the rapid diffusion of this ''innovation'' [2][3][4][5][6]. The novel suicide method (burning charcoal within enclosed spaces such as cars) subsequently spread to other parts of Asia including Japan and Korea [7].…”

Suicide by charcoal burning: a digital age phenomenon

“…Following the first reported case of a 38‐year old woman in Hong Kong, in 1998 (Liu et al., ), it is now one of the most common modes of suicide in Asia, accounting for 20% of all suicides in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Japan, it accounts for 12.8% of male suicides and 5.9% of females (Kato et al., ), with increases also noted in South Korea, Singapore (Cheng, Chang, Guo, & Yip, ) and Taiwan, where this method increased 65‐fold between 1995 and 2011 (Chang, Kwok, Cheng, Yip, & Chen, ). This increase in charcoal suicides in Hong Kong have not been compensated by decreases in other methods, indicating that the availability of this method of suicide may be contributing to increased suicide rates (Liu et al., ).…”

“…The media and Internet have played a significant role in the rising use of charcoal burning as a form of suicide. Over the last two decades there has been a significant rise in the use of the Internet, particularly in Asia, and this has resulted in detailed technical information about methods of suicide becoming readily available to a wide audience (Chang et al., ; Cheng et al., ). One study found that an increase in Google search volume relating to charcoal burning was related to the incidence of suicide by this method in that same week as suicides increased and in the week following this change (Chang et al., ).…”

“…Over the last two decades there has been a significant rise in the use of the Internet, particularly in Asia, and this has resulted in detailed technical information about methods of suicide becoming readily available to a wide audience (Chang et al., ; Cheng et al., ). One study found that an increase in Google search volume relating to charcoal burning was related to the incidence of suicide by this method in that same week as suicides increased and in the week following this change (Chang et al., ). A further study noted that of the 18 wiki‐style pages that detailed suicide methods, none encouraged a person considering suicide to seek help (Cheng et al., ).…”

“…This ready access to information is amplified during periods of media focus on the topic of suicide by charcoal burning. A study in Taiwan found that 87% of survivors of a suicide attempt by charcoal burning had been influenced by media coverage (Chang et al., ). The authors observed that the substance of media reporting promoted this method as one that was painless and effective, thereby increasing its appeal to this audience, a finding echoed by Chen et al.…”