Charcoal-burning suicide

Charcoal-burning suicide is committing suicide by burning charcoal in a closed room.

Mechanism of action

As the charcoal burns, the oxygen in the air of the room is gradually exhausted. The incomplete combustion of carbon produces carbon monoxide which binds strongly to hemoglobin, rapidly decreasing the ability of blood to deliver oxygen to the body. This results in death due to hypoxia brought about by carbon monoxide poisoning.

The method is described as "easy and painless" compared to other suicide methods.^[1] Unlike jumping from a high-rise building or cutting with a knife, the suicidal person does not have to overcome their fear of pain. To relieve the possible discomfort of suffocation, one might take drugs such as alcohol. ^[1]

Some experts challenge the description of the method as painless, noting that the lack of oxygen can cause choking.^[2] A survivor of this method usually needs intensive care. They may have permanent brain damage.

History

In November 1998, a middle-aged woman in Hong Kong committed suicide using this method inside her small, sealed bedroom. As this method is not listed in Tsurumi's Complete Manual of Suicide from 1993, she may have invented it herself using her chemical engineering background.^[3]

Meanwhile, Hong Kong was suffering from an economic depression at the time, and suicide in general was increasing. After the details of this suicide were highly publicised by local mass media, many others attempted and succeeded in committing suicide in this way. Within two months, charcoal-burning had become the third major suicide killer in Hong Kong.^[4] Charcoal-burning suicide accounted for 1.7% of Hong Kong suicides in 1998 and 10.1% in 1999.^[5] By 2001, it had surpassed hanging as the second most-common method of suicide in Hong Kong (second only to jumping), accounting for about 25% of all suicide deaths.^[4] The method has since spread to mainland China, Taiwan and Japan.^{[citation needed]}

In order to prevent charcoal burning, the Hong Kong Government replaced the traditional countryside charcoal barbecue with an electric grill. Some non-government organizations worked with charcoal retailers to promote the message of "treasure your life" by putting "seek help" labels on the charcoal bags.

On March 9, 2007, Brad Delp, the lead singer of the rock band Boston, committed suicide using this method.

Film

"Death by charcoal" is suggested as the cause of death for a deceased MTF transsexual or cross-dresser who is the subject of the first encoffinment in the 2008 film Departures. "Departures" was winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Chung WS, Leung CM (June 2001). "Carbon monoxide poisoning as a new method of suicide in Hong Kong". Psychiatr Serv 52 (6): 836–7. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.52.6.836. PMID 11376237. http://www.psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/52/6/836. 
2. ^ Life is precious
3. ^ Chan KP, Yip PS, Au J, Lee DT (January 2005). "Charcoal-burning suicide in post-transition Hong Kong". Br J Psychiatry 186 (1): 67–73. doi:10.1192/bjp.186.1.67. PMID 15630126. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/186/1/67. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Media coverage boosts 'charcoal burning' suicides — 28 February 2003 — New Scientist
5. ^ Leung CM, Chung WS, So EP (May 2002). "Burning charcoal: an indigenous method of committing suicide in Hong Kong". J Clin Psychiatry 63 (5): 447–50. PMID 12019670.