How to maintain falling suicide rate

Suicide is a major public health issue across the world. It is the cause of 800,000 premature deaths globally, according to latest statistics.

In the 1990s, China had one of the highest suicide rates (23.2 per 100,000 people). An estimated 250,000 suicides were reported every year in the 1990s, accounting for about a quarter of all suicides in the world. In fact, suicide was the fifth leading cause of deaths in China.

Besides, more women than men committed suicides in China during the period, which was drastically different from the about 3:1 male-female suicide ratio in Western countries. Also, the suicide rate in China was substantially higher in rural areas than in cities, with older adults more prone to committing suicide.