@article{ref1,
title="Analysis of internet suicide pacts reported by the media in mainland China",
journal="Crisis",
year="2016",
author="Jiang, Fang-Fan and Xu, Hui-lan and Liao, Hui-Ying and Zhang, Ting",
volume="38",
number="1",
pages="36-43",
abstract="BACKGROUND: In mainland China, frequent Internet suicide pacts in recent years have raised strong concerns from several social sectors and the influence of social networks on suicide is constantly growing. AIMS: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of media-reported Internet suicide pacts in mainland China. <br><br>METHOD: Our study comprised 62 Internet suicide pacts involving 159 victims in mainland China before June 1, 2015. Kendall's randomness test, a trend test, and a circular distribution test were applied to identify the rising or concentrated trends in the time of occurrence of Internet suicide pacts. <br><br>RESULTS: The overall male-to-female ratio was 2.3:1. Suicide victims were mainly people in their 20s to 30s (84.1%). In all, 87.1% suicide victims completed suicide in sealed hotels or rental housing, and charcoal-burning suicide accounted for 80.6% of cases. <br><br>CONCLUSION: People who complete suicide as part of an Internet suicide pact are more likely to be males, aged 20-30 years. Charcoal-burning suicide in sealed hotels or rental housing was the commonest way of dying.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0227-5910",
doi="10.1027/0227-5910/a000402",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000402"
}