New | Shenzhen ex-deputy mayor's Lunar New Year suicide revealed
Yuan Ruwen, 71, a former deputy mayor of Shenzhen city in Guangdong province, committed suicide on February 1, a day after Lunar New Year. He was said to have suffered from depression in recent years, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Wednesday.
Yuan was found dead in the early morning that Friday after apparently jumping off the Bijiashan residential building in Futian district, where many retired party officials live.
Yuan, who retired seven years ago from his government posts, was described by his son as having led a quiet life.
After rising up the ranks in Baoan, a district in Shenzhen, Yuan became deputy mayor of the city in 1995 and later was appointed deputy mayor of Xiamen in neighbouring Fujian province.
He retired as the deputy director of the local legislature in Shenzhen in 2007. He had supervised many development projects in Baoan district and the city of Shenzhen.
According to Yuan’s son, he suffered from chronic insomnia which led to his depression.
His funeral was organised by the city government on February 7 at the city funeral home.
Yuan is the latest in a growing list of government officials who have committed suicide in recent years after reportedly suffering from depression.
On January 4, Bai Zhongren, the president of the state-owned giant China Railway Group Limited, jumped to his death at his home in Beijing. Local media said he was suffering from depression due to work-related stress.
