Suicides in Beijing, China, 1992-1993.

Analyzing the raw data of suicides reported to the Beijing Public Security Bureau in 1992 and 1993, this study reveals for the first time to the academic public in the West the rate, gender difference, the timing, causes, and means of Chinese suicides. In comparison with suicide patterns in Western societies, mainly reported by Durkheim (1897/1951), Diekstra (1990) and the National Center for Health Statistics (1991), the findings of this study suggest more differences than similarities. The comparatively low suicide rate (4.8 per 100,000 population), the reversed gender effect (55.4% of suicides are female and 44.6% male), alleged causes, and reported means of suicides in China are explained in terms of history, culture, and social forces. However, the direct relationship of warm seasons to Chinese suicide rates is consistent with what is known about Western societies.