Temporal variation in parasuicide among Singaporean Chinese

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any temporal variation in the incidence of parasuicide within the Chinese community and, if possible, to correlate the findings with prevailing cultural and social influences. Method: All patients of Chinese origin referred to a teaching hospital in Singapore between 1990 and 1994 were included in the study. The cases were divided by sex and aggregated for the month and day of the week in which the parasuicides occurred. Results: Cases of parasuicide peaked on Mondays, while the lowest incidences occurred on Saturdays. The peak months were June, August and September with a trough in December and January. Conclusions: The findings may not be amenable to any single explanation but the peak months coincided with the month of the Hungry Ghosts, which is believed to be a particularly inauspicious period, while the trough occurred during a festive period. Similarly, looking at the student population, the peaks coincided with the examination period. It appears that social and cultural factors play a significant role in the temporal variation in parasuicide in Singapore.