Economic fluctuations and suicide: A comparison of Taiwan and Hong Kong

► The increase in unemployment rate for the period 1997-2003 seems to fuel the emergence of charcoal burning suicide in both Taiwan and Hong Kong. ► The improvement in employment condition for the period 2003-2007 has delivered different suicide patterns in Taiwan and Hong Kong. We have seen a declining trend in overall suicide rate as well as charcoal burning suicide rate in Hong Kong; however, suicide rates continued to rise even after the improvement of the employment conditions in Taiwan. ► Suicide rates generally go up in time of increased unemployment rate, After it gets hold its ground in the community, the effect of improvement of employment condition is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition for the suicide rate to follow. A wider perspective of other exogenous factors, including media and mental well being of the working population should be taken into account.