Suicide rate could rise amid modernization

But as the country becomes more developed and faster-paced, people may become more stressed and the number of suicides could rise — just as in the developed economies.

Contrary to what the Economist article has argued, the trend is actually in line with the thinking of Emile Durkheim, a 19th-century French sociologist, who said that urbanization, modernization and socioeconomic gains can lead to increased social alienation and a higher suicide rate.

China has only had a very short history of urbanization and modernization. Its reform and opening up programs have been in place for more than thirty years, but it remained a relatively poor country until the start of this century. Only in the past decade did China see an explosive growth in the wealth of its people.

China’s urban unemployment rate has remained largely stable but, as the economy becomes more market-oriented, the unemployment rate will fluctuate, leading to anxiety among those who have lost their jobs.

As the country becomes richer in the next decades, people may be under more stress – and the suicide rate may rise again.

Also, the number of suicides caused by various mental health conditions could also rise in China, and this deserves more attention from policymakers, as official data shows the country has more than 30 million people who suffer from clinical depression.