Support for rural elderly to reduce suicides

The high suicide rate among the rural elderly is a trend that is likely to continue for a while, given China's aging population and urbanization drive, if it remains a left-behind social problem.

On the one hand, population aging will take place even earlier than usual among some groups of people with disabilities. On the other, an increasing number of youngsters in rural areas will move to the cities in search of a better life, leaving their aging parents behind unattended because of their inability to financially support the whole family in a city.

In all likelihood, many of these elderly rural residents will resort to suicide without enough care and support. Therefore, action urgently needs to be taken to curb the trend.