The Evolution of Charcoal Burning Suicides in Hong Kong, 1997–2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Vera Yu Men ◽  
Cheuk Yui Yeung ◽  
Paul Siu Fai Yip
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Charcoal Burning

The evolution of the characteristics of charcoal-burning suicide in Hong Kong, 2002–2013

2019 ◽  
Vol 257 ◽  
pp. 390-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Han Chang ◽  
Chia-Yueh Hsu ◽  
Qijin Cheng ◽  
Shu-Sen Chang ◽  
Paul Yip
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Charcoal Burning

Charcoal-Burning Suicides and Strategies for Prevention

Crisis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (S1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S.F. Yip ◽  
Dominic T.S. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
New Method ◽  
Charcoal Burning ◽  
Media Reporting

Abstract. This paper examines the emergence of a new method of suicide in Hong Kong by carbon monoxide poisoning generated by the burning of charcoal. In just 6 years, it has become the second most common means of suicide after jumping from heights. The profile of these charcoal-burning suicide victims is different from that of other suicide deaths. It seems that a significant proportion of the increase in the number of suicides for the period is attributable to the charcoal burning. The effect of mass media reporting and strategies on how to contain the contagious effect of charcoal-burning deaths are discussed.

scholarly journals Charcoal-burning suicide in post-transition Hong Kong

2005 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy P. M. Chan ◽  
Paul S. F. Yip ◽  
Jade Au ◽  
Dominic T. S. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Suicide Method ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Charcoal Burning ◽  
Media Reports ◽  
Burning Method

BackgroundCharcoal-burning, a new suicide method, emerged in Hong Kong during the latest economic recession. With-in 2 months charcoal-burning had become the third most common suicide method.AimsTo examine the characteristics of suicides by charcoal-burning, and to delineate the pathways linking macro-level economic and social changes with the subjective experiences of those surviving a charcoal-burning suicide attempt.MethodBoth quantitative and qualitative methods were used. In the coroner's records study, the first 160 cases of suicide by charcoal-burning were compared with a control group. In the ethnographic enquiry, we interviewed 25 consecutive informants who had survived serious suicide attempt using charcoal-burning.ResultsPeople who completed suicide by the charcoal-burning method were more likely to have been economically active and physically healthy, and were less likely to have had pre-existing mental illness. Charcoal-burning suicide was associated with overindebtedness. Media reports were pivotal in linking overindebtedness and financial troubles with charcoal-burning.ConclusionsThe political economy of suicide by charcoal-burning illustrated how historical, socio-economic and cultural forces shaped the lived experience that preceded suicide.

The diffusion of a new method of suicide: charcoal-burning suicide in Hong Kong and Taiwan

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Yeh Chen ◽  
Paul SF Yip ◽  
Carmen KM Lee ◽  
David Gunnell ◽  
Kevin Chien-Chang Wu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
New Method ◽  
Charcoal Burning

scholarly journals Restricting the means of suicide by charcoal burning

2010 ◽  
Vol 196 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S. F. Yip ◽  
C. K. Law ◽  
King-Wa Fu ◽  
Y. W. Law ◽  
Paul W. C. Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Control Region ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Charcoal Burning ◽  
Retail Outlets ◽  
Intervention Region ◽  
Significant Change

SummaryWe conducted an exploratory controlled trial to examine the efficacy of restricting access to charcoal in preventing suicides from carbon monoxide poisoning by charcoal burning in Hong Kong. All charcoal packs were removed from the open shelves of major retail outlets in the intervention region for 12 months; in the control region, charcoal packs were displayed as usual. The suicide rate from charcoal burning was reduced by a statistically significant margin in the intervention region (P<0.05) but not in the control region. We observed no significant change in the suicide rate using other methods in either location.

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