The evolution of charcoal-burning suicide: A systematic scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide by charcoal burning has accounted for more than 100,000 deaths. It has become an increasingly common suicide method in Hong Kong since first reported in 1998, and it has spread into South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and other countries. This systematic scoping review aimed to explore current evidence on trends, risk factors, impact of media and prevention strategies for this suicide method, and to identify research gaps. Methods: A search for articles published from January 1998 to June 2021 was conducted through electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and PsycINFO) with the keywords (suicide*) AND (charcoal). Articles describing prevalence, trends, characteristics, risk factors and prevention strategies of charcoal burning suicide deaths were included. Non-peer-reviewed articles, non-English articles, commentaries/editorials/letters, poster abstracts, reviews, meta-analyses and studies that documented only charcoal burning suicide attempters/survivors were excluded. Results: Eighty-eight studies were identified, most from East Asia. Charcoal burning suicide rates in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan has passed the peak, while continuing to increase in South Korea. Risk factors are changing and not static. Media appears to play an important role in triggering and spreading information. Restricting access to charcoal, and raising public awareness have been effective in the short term in preventing charcoal burning suicide, but there is little information on their long-term effectiveness or sustainability. Discussion: More research is required to update the development and dynamic changes of charcoal burning suicide and the contributing factors. The evidence from this review may assist in detecting and intervening early for future novel suicide methods.

The Kenneth Law Media Event – A Dangerous Natural Experiment

“…There have been multiple instances of novel methods of suicide spreading through the media, including a method which skyrocketed in Asia following highly publicized media stories (Yeung et al, 2023). Another example in England and Wales seems to have spread more predominantly through the Internet rather than the popular media with smaller numerical increases at a population-level compared to the increases seen in suicide in the Asian example (Gunnell et al, 2015).…”

Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae with improvement of decreased cerebral bold flow by single‐photon emission computed tomography during hyperbaric oxygen therapy: A case report with a 10‐year follow‐up

“…2 Suicides caused by burning of charcoal are common in East Asia. 3 In 2019, the use of charcoal briquettes was the third (8.7%) most common method of suicide among Japanese men, following hanging and jumping. 4 Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae (DNS) occurs in 10%-30% of cases of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.…”

“…In 2019, over 20,000 suicides occurred in Japan, 70% of which involved men 2 . Suicides caused by burning of charcoal are common in East Asia 3 . In 2019, the use of charcoal briquettes was the third (8.7%) most common method of suicide among Japanese men, following hanging and jumping 4…”