Citation

Chan KP, Yip PS, Au J, Lee DT. Br. J. Psychiatry 2005; 186: 67-73.

Affiliation

HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. sfpyip@hku.hk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.186.1.67

PMID

15630126

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Charcoal-burning, a new suicide method, emerged in Hong Kong during the latest economic recession. Within 2 months charcoal-burning had become the third most common suicide method. AIMS: To examine the characteristics of suicides by charcoal-burning, and to delineate the pathways linking macro-level economic and social changes with the subjective experiences of those surviving a charcoal-burning suicide attempt. METHOD: Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. In the coroner's records study, the first 160 cases of suicide by charcoal-burning were compared with a control group. In the ethnographic enquiry, we interviewed 25 consecutive informants who had survived serious suicide attempt using charcoal-burning. RESULTS: People who completed suicide by the charcoal-burning method were more likely to have been economically active and physically healthy, and were less likely to have had pre-existing mental illness. Charcoal-burning suicide was associated with overindebtedness. Media reports were pivotal in linking overindebtedness and financial troubles with charcoal-burning. CONCLUSIONS: The political economy of suicide by charcoal-burning illustrated how historical, socio-economic and cultural forces shaped the lived experience that preceded suicide.