Suicide attempts and suicides of school children in Hong Kong 1991-1994

Abstract

This study examined the 155 attempted suicides and 50 fatal suicides of school children in Hong Kong for the three school years in the period September 1991 to August 1994. The annual attempted suicide rate is estimated at 2.7 and 8.4 per 100,000 for male and female schoolchildren respectively. The male to female ratio is about 1:3. The annual suicide rate of the school children is estimated at 1.5 and 2.1 per 100,000 for males and females who have a ratio about 1: 1.4. The highest rate of suicide and attempted suicide were found in the group of Females aged 15 or above had the highest rate both in attempted and fatal suicides. Over 50% of the attempters used wrist slashing. Drug overdose was the second most common method in attempted suicides. Over 90% of the fatal cases were jumping from a high place. Drowning, gas, hanging, firearms were the least common methods. Fatal and attempted suicides occurred more often during weekdays and less often on Saturdays and Sundays. The times between successive suicide attempts were not independent.