Suchergebnisse

Abstract. Background: China accounts for 15% of the global suicide death toll, yet suicide research efforts in the country are not well known by international colleagues. Aims: We aimed to outline the development of suicide research in China, appraise research findings, and identify key contributors. Method: English and Chinese research publication databases were systematically searched and relevant papers were reviewed. Chinese and English publications were compared. Results: There are almost 10 times more Chinese publications than English ones. The research focuses of and key contributors to the Chinese and English literature exhibit more differences than commonalities. The field experienced rapid expansion in the new millennium with more and higher quality publications and more funding support. Psychosocial-oriented perspectives guided most of the papers. Poisoning by pesticide as a suicide method and youth as a subpopulation group received the most research attention. Limitations: The scoping review does not provide in-depth syntheses on specific topics and does not include more recent publications. Conclusion: Research on suicide in China has been actively carried out during the 30-year period we reviewed, which might have contributed to suicide prevention in China. Research gaps identified by the review should be addressed to sustain the achievements.

Background: The Hong Kong news media report suicide-related events more frequently and sensationally than Western countries. Little is known about Hong Kong media professionals' experiences and thoughts about such reporting. Aims: To understand Hong Kong media professionals' experiences and perceptions of suicide reporting and whether the news media can be better engaged into suicide prevention. Method: We conducted three focus groups of journalists from both the Cantonese and English language news media. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Results: We discerned three rationales from participants regarding their intense coverage of suicide-related events: (1) satisfying commercial competitiveness, (2) addressing social problems, and (3) responding to readers' interests. The first rationale was a dominant and vigorous motivating factor, and often influenced suicide reporting among local Cantonese media. Media professionals recommended engagement strategies targeted at frontline journalists, media managers, and general media consumers. Conclusion: We see potential to involve news media professionals in Hong Kong as working partners in suicide prevention. To succeed, this effort requires engagement in a proactive, consistent, and sustained fashion.

Background: The self-presentation of suicidal acts in social media has become a public health concern. Aims: This article centers on a Chinese microblogger who posted a wrist-cutting picture that was widely circulated in Chinese social media in 2011. This exploratory study examines written reactions of a group of Chinese microbloggers exposed to the post containing a self-harming message and photo. In addition, we investigate the pattern of information diffusion via a social network. Methods: We systematically collected and analyzed 5,971 generated microblogs and the network of information diffusion. Results: We found that a significant portion of written responses (36.6%) could help vulnerable netizens by providing peer-support and calls for help. These responses were reposted and diffused via an online social network with markedly more clusters of users – and at a faster pace – than a set of randomly generated networks. Conclusions: We conclude that social media can be a double-edged sword: While it may contagiously affect others by spreading suicidal thoughts and acts, it may also play a positive role by assisting people at risk for suicide, providing rescue or support. More research is needed to learn how suicidally vulnerable people interact with online suicide information, and how we can effectively intervene.

Abstract. Background: Youth suicide has become an emerging public health challenge globally. In this study we leveraged the power of social media to better engage the youth population. Aims: We aimed to investigate the impacts of promoting suicide prevention through social media and evaluate the co-creation process of the project with a popular YouTuber in Hong Kong. Method: A YouTube suicide prevention short film was co-produced by the YouTuber and the research team. We examined the co-creation process using thematic analysis, and analyzed the YouTube video statistics and the data collected from the online survey and public comments. Results: The short film brought positive perceived changes in the audience's suicide prevention knowledge, attitude, and behaviors. Three facilitating factors and one challenge of the co-creation process were identified. The short film statistics and demographics of the audience were also extracted and analyzed. Limitations: There was a small sample size and a lack of a control group in this study. Conclusion: Suicide prevention promotion by the YouTuber was promising. This study demonstrates the effectiveness in promoting suicide prevention via social media and provides a framework for future studies to evaluate similar forms of collaborations.

Abstract. Background: The use of the helium suicide method has been increasing in popularity in Hong Kong since 2012. We have learned a valuable lesson in curbing the spread of charcoal burning (CB) suicide in the past 15 years and hope to prevent the helium suicide method from taking off in the community. Aims: To document what actions have been taken to contain the spread of the helium suicide method and review the preliminary impact of these actions. Method: We adopted a public health approach by engaging stakeholders from multiple sectors, including the police force, the fire services department, coroners, pathologists, mass media, and online media outlets. Results: A monitoring system was established by compiling data extracted from news reports, coroners' reports, and police investigations. Risk and protective factors were identified. Intervention strategies were developed to strengthen protective factors and minimize risk factors. This novel suicide method has not spread as rapidly as the CB suicide method. The preliminary outcomes suggest our actions to be effective. Limitations: The count of helium suicides in 2015 might be low. The impacts of the interventions are only estimated and require additional empirical verifications. Conclusion: The public health approach of engaging multiple partners in the early phase of a potential epidemic can be a good guide to meeting the challenges posed by any new suicide methods that emerge in the future.