Table 3 A comparison between the contact and non-contact group by enabling, evaluated need and circumstance of death variables

Number of cases

52 (43.7%)

67 (56.3%)

Income level

1

8.34

.004*

   Less than HK$7K

40 (85.1%)

37 (59.7%)

   HK$7K or more

7 (14.9%)

25 (40.3%)

Employment status

2

8.22

.016*

   Full/part-time/self-employed

15 (31.2%)

36 (55.4%)

   Unemployed/quitted

24 (50.0%)

25 (38.5%)

   Economically inactive

9 (18.8%)

4 (6.2%)

Financial debts/bankruptcy

1

16.71

.000*

   Debts/broke

5 (9.6%)

29 (43.9%)

   No debts/not broke

47 (90.4%)

37 (56.1%)

Social problem-solving ability

   Mean

17.30

(S.D. = 8.09)

21.94

(S.D. = 8.11)

-2.96

-2.96

.004*

.004*

Social support

   Size of social support

3.43

(S.D. = 2.86)

3.69

(S.D. = 2.37)

-.49

-.48

.623

.630

   Frequency of social activities

6.15

(S.D. = 4.88)

7.90

(S.D. = 5.38)

-1.60

-1.62

.114

.110

   Social support content

2.99

(S.D. = 1.13)

3.22

(S.D. = .95)

-1.08

-1.07

.281

.288

SCID diagnosis

1

22.0

.000*

   Psychotic disorder(s)

23 (44.2%)

5 (7.5%)

   Non-psychotic disorder(s)

29 (55.8%)

62 (92.5%)

Suicide Intent Scale

   Mean

6.88

(S.D. = 3.22)

9.52

(S.D. = 4.02)

-3.85

-3.96

.000*

Level of suicide intent

1

9.85

.002*

   Low (0-5.5)

21 (40.4%)

10 (14.9%)

   High (5.6-14)

31 (59.6%)

57 (85.1%)

Previous suicide attempt(s)

1

5.01

.082

   Yes

31 (59.6%)

28 (41.8%)

   No

19 (36.5%)

38 (56.7%)

Suicide method

6

12.18

.058

   Cutting/stabbing

2 (3.8%)

1 (1.5%)

   Drug overdose

3 (5.8%)

4 (6.0%)

   Jumping railway

0 (0.0%)

1 (1.5%)

   Jumping from a height

34 (65.4%)

25 (37.3%)

   Hanging

3 (5.8%)

7 (10.4%)

Carbon monoxide poisoning

by charcoal burning

8 (15.4%)

25 (37.3%)

   Others

2 (3.8%)

4 (6.0%)