Women and suicide in rural China

Abstract

Suicide in China accounts for about a quarter of all suicides worldwide. In contrast to western populations, in China more women than men kill themselves. It is a gloomy picture, but there are signs that the situation may be improving. Cui Weiyuan reports.

The staircase where the family had stored the pesticide. Zhang swallowed it when she attempted to commit suicide.

Dr Su Zhonghua

Chen Liping in her ward at the Jining Medical College’s No. 2 Hospital (locally known as Daizhuang Hospital).