3pc of adults 'consider suicide'
More than 3 per cent of Hong Kong adults have seriously considered committing suicide, a Department of Health study has found.
The results were released yesterday as a World Health Organisation official warned of a rising suicide rate in the Western Pacific region.
The survey of 7,000 people aged over 15 found that 3.6 per cent had seriously considered suicide, 2.6 per cent had planned how to do it, and 1.4 per cent had attempted it in the 12 months to September 2003.
'Suicide prevention is everyone's business. Other than experts and professionals, anyone can help prevent the tragedy,' a Department of Health spokesman said. 'If someone reveals his or her suicidal intentions to you, take them seriously.'
A total of 1,103 suicides were registered in Hong Kong in 2003, about two thirds of them males, the department said.
A WHO report yesterday said the Western Pacific region had 19.3 suicides for every 100,000 people. The global estimate is 14 per 100,000. In 2002, the region had 331,000 suicides - about 38 per cent of the world's total.
'We need to revitalise our communities so that the connectedness people once felt in their communities, workplaces and even families can be restored,' said Shigeru Omi, WHO director for the Western Pacific region.
A number of countries in the region, including Fiji, Japan, South Korea and the Marshall Islands, experienced significant increases in suicide, the report said.
The WHO also estimated that globally there were 10 to 20 times more failed suicide attempts than deaths by suicide, resulting in injury, hospital admissions and emotional and mental trauma.
'Suicide is a tragic global health problem, but it is largely preventable,' said Dr Omi. 'High self-esteem and social connectedness are proven protective factors against suicide.'
