Around two million people attempt suicide in China each year, with 250,000 of them succeeding, an official study said today.
The figures estimated by China's Ministry of Health showed that around 22 people out of every 100,000 people across the country killed themselves annually, the
Beijing Youth Daily
said.
Easy access to toxic pesticides greatly contributed to the figure in rural areas, especially among women, a senior researcher on the issue told the state Xinhua news agency.
"If poisonous pesticides are strictly controlled, the suicide rate might well be lowered by half nationwide," said Professor Zhai Shutao.
Although the suicide rate is lower than in some countries, such as the 26 cases per 100,000 people a year recorded in Japan, the number of deaths is considered a "serious social issue".
The study found that in China rural dwellers and females were at greater risk of suicide than urban residents and males. Suicide rates among the young and old were particularly high.
The country needed to introduce far more specialist help centres for the vulnerable, said Professor Zhai.
"Medical, social and psychological experts should make concerted efforts to help the most needy, including mental patients, young and old people, prison inmates, and alcohol abusers."
AFP