Adolescent suicide in Hong Kong during 1980-2000. 2003

Daniel T Shek, and Vera Tang
Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. DANIELSHEK@CUHK.EDU.HK

Analyses of adolescent suicide statistics in Hong Kong for the period 1980 to 2000 revealed several phenomena. First, while adolescent suicide rates (10-24 age group) in Hong Kong were relatively stable for the period under study, there was a gradual rising trend where adolescent suicide rates in the 1990s were higher than those in the 1980s. Second, suicide rates for adolescents aged 10-24 were lower than those of other adult age groups. Third, while adolescent suicide rates in Hong Kong were lower than those reported in some English-speaking countries and Mainland China, the figures were higher than those reported in Taiwan. Fourth, suicide rates among teenagers in early adolescence were lower than those among adolescents in late adolescence. Fifth, although male adolescent suicide rates were in general higher than female adolescent suicide rates (10-24 age group), gender differences in suicide rates appeared to be moderated by age. Sixth, there was a gradual rising trend in adolescent proportional mortality rates for suicide in the 1990s. Seventh, proportional mortality rates for suicide among teenagers in early adolescence were lower than those among adolescents in late adolescence. Finally, while jumping from a height was a common method of adolescent suicide, there was a rising trend of using other methods such as taking drugs, hanging and charcoal burning. The observed adolescent suicide phenomena are discussed with reference to the socio-cultural context of Hong Kong.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006723 Hong Kong The former British crown colony located off the southeast coast of China, comprised of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and New Territories. The three sites were ceded to the British by the Chinese respectively in 1841, 1860, and 1898. Hong Kong reverted to China in July 1997. The name represents the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese xianggang, fragrant port, from xiang, perfume and gang, port or harbor, with reference to its currents sweetened by fresh water from a river west of it. Kowloon,New Territories,Hongkong
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013405 Suicide The act of killing oneself. Suicides
D015995 Prevalence The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences
D017678 Sex Distribution The number of males and females in a given population. The distribution may refer to how many men or women or what proportion of either in the group. The population is usually patients with a specific disease but the concept is not restricted to humans and is not restricted to medicine. Distribution, Sex,Distributions, Sex,Sex Distributions

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