Work

Restricting the means of suicide by charcoal burning

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: We conducted an exploratory controlled trial to examine the efficacy of restricting access to charcoal in preventing suicides from carbon monoxide poisoning by charcoal burning in Hong Kong. All charcoal packs were removed from the open shelves of major retail outlets in the intervention region for 12 months; in the control region, charcoal packs were displayed as usual. The suicide rate from charcoal burning was reduced by a statistically significant margin in the intervention region (P<0.05) but not in the control region. We observed no significant change in the suicide rate using other methods in either location.

Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.065185

Authors: Paul S. F. Yip, C. K. Law, King-Wa Fu, Y. W. Law, Paul W. C. Wong, Ying Xu

Institutions: Hong Kong Jockey Club, University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Singapore Clinical Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Hong Kong Government