ABSTRACT
Findings from a comparative study of some 1,400 adolescents aged 15 to 16 in Canada, Britain and Hong Kong are presented. The Hong Kong Chinese males and females had about the same levels of suicidal ideation as their Canadian and British counterparts. However, both Chinese males and females have rather more responses indicating frequency of self-harm. Correlates of the suicidality scale (combining indicators of ideas and behaviours) in the Hong Kong sample indicate that perceived family discord is associated with suicidality in both males and females. For females, physical and sexual harassment in school, community and home was also linked to suicidality. These findings underscore the fact that a stable and supportive family climate is an important factor in suicide prevention, and its absence is a factor in suicidal risk.
