A longitudinal comparison of age patterns and rates of suicide in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan and two Western countries

作者：Snowdon, John^*; Chen, Ying-Yeh; Zhong, Baoliang; Yamauchi, Takashi

来源：Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2018, 31: 15-20.

DOI：10.1016/j.ajp.2017.11.020

• suicide rates age gender Asia Western

Suicide data relating to 1979-2014 were obtained from three East Asian jurisdictions (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan) and two 'Western' countries (Australia, New Zealand). Rates and age patterns of suicide have changed markedly since 1979. Graphs of these patterns largely remained either upward-sloping, bimodal or flat (uniform) over the 36 years, male commonly differing from female, and East Asian patterns more like each other than those of the Western countries. Japan's male middle-aged suicide rate reached a peak in 1999-2003, which, like increased rates among working age males in Hong Kong and Taiwan, has been attributed largely to consequences of Asian financial crises. Male to female ratios of suicide rates have remained higher in the Western countries, but late life suicide rates have decreased to varying extents in all five jurisdictions. Identifying reasons for differences between jurisdictions in their suicide rates and patterns at particular times, and over time, is likely to point to factors (period, cohort, psychosocial or cultural) that protect against or foster suicidal ideation. This avenue of research may assist in identifying ways of preventing suicide.

• 出版日期2018-1
• 单位国家安全生产监督管理总局信息研究院; 上海市精神卫生中心; 华中科技大学