How to maintain falling suicide rate

But simply improving the GDP may not be enough to guarantee the well-being of the people and a continuous drop in the suicide rate. There are still many areas and regions in China which are yet to taste the fruits of the country's economic development and the people living there are more prone to committing suicide. The resilience level of the youth and the growing disparity between the rich and the poor are still a cause for worry. The uncertainty of economic growth has also caused considerable anxiety among Chinese people.

The rapid socio-economic development in any country has its cost. For example, South Korea and Japan have high GDP but their suicide are amongst the highest in OECD countries. The rapid socio-economic change could be a source of more stress for the Chinese people and a new cause of suicides in China. Research conducted by the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention shows that the increasing suicide rates in some East/Southeast Asia countries could be attributed to the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. Similarly, an increase in suicides in European countries and the United States can be blamed on the 2008-09 global financial crisis.

Therefore, the declining rate of suicide in China could reverse in the next decade because of social stress associated with the slowdown in economic growth, rapid aging of the population, increased economic burden, income inequality and social instability. The risks associated with urbanization will start emerging by the next decade and could lead to a weakening of ties with family, friends, institutions and hometowns. So, it is important to prepare in advance to meet the challenges to maintain the well-being of the people.

No health without mental health, says the World Health Organization. Healthcare services have to be people-oriented to help prevent people from committing suicide and save those who try to kill themselves. Availability and affordability of psychiatric services should be improved, and public awareness of depression and suicidal risk should be enhanced. Also, tailor-made programs should be developed to help those in need, such as the unemployed, older adults and single parents.

The government has to take measures to ensure that economic development benefits all the people rather than a selected few. Better governance is needed to redress public grievances, and more work has to be done to maintain the downward trend of the suicide rate in China. Once there is hope, people will have the courage and ability to face life's adversities.

The author is the director of Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.