Shek Daniel T, Tang Vera
Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2003 Jul-Sep;15(3):245-65. doi: 10.1515/ijamh.2003.15.3.245.
Analyses of adolescent suicide statistics in Hong Kong for the period 1980 to 2000 revealed several phenomena. First, while adolescent suicide rates (10-24 age group) in Hong Kong were relatively stable for the period under study, there was a gradual rising trend where adolescent suicide rates in the 1990s were higher than those in the 1980s. Second, suicide rates for adolescents aged 10-24 were lower than those of other adult age groups. Third, while adolescent suicide rates in Hong Kong were lower than those reported in some English-speaking countries and Mainland China, the figures were higher than those reported in Taiwan. Fourth, suicide rates among teenagers in early adolescence were lower than those among adolescents in late adolescence. Fifth, although male adolescent suicide rates were in general higher than female adolescent suicide rates (10-24 age group), gender differences in suicide rates appeared to be moderated by age. Sixth, there was a gradual rising trend in adolescent proportional mortality rates for suicide in the 1990s. Seventh, proportional mortality rates for suicide among teenagers in early adolescence were lower than those among adolescents in late adolescence. Finally, while jumping from a height was a common method of adolescent suicide, there was a rising trend of using other methods such as taking drugs, hanging and charcoal burning. The observed adolescent suicide phenomena are discussed with reference to the socio-cultural context of Hong Kong.
对1980年至2000年香港青少年自杀统计数据的分析揭示了几个现象。首先，在研究期间，香港青少年自杀率（10 - 24岁年龄组）相对稳定，但20世纪90年代的青少年自杀率呈逐渐上升趋势，高于80年代。其次，10 - 24岁青少年的自杀率低于其他成年年龄组。第三，虽然香港青少年自杀率低于一些英语国家和中国大陆报告的自杀率，但高于台湾报告的自杀率。第四，青春期早期青少年的自杀率低于青春期晚期青少年。第五，虽然男性青少年自杀率总体上高于女性青少年自杀率（10 - 24岁年龄组），但自杀率的性别差异似乎受年龄影响。第六，20世纪90年代青少年自杀比例死亡率呈逐渐上升趋势。第七，青春期早期青少年的自杀比例死亡率低于青春期晚期青少年。最后，虽然从高处跳下是青少年自杀的常见方式，但使用其他方式（如服药、上吊和烧炭）的趋势在上升。本文结合香港的社会文化背景对观察到的青少年自杀现象进行了讨论。
