title: Causes of suicidal behaviors in men who have sex with men in China: a national questionnaire survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become a high-risk group of HIV infection in China. To date, little is known regarding the psychological characteristics in Chinese MSM, especially the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey was conducted on 2,250 MSM recruited from gay bars in 9 large cities in mainland China. Data on the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts as well as the underlying causes in the respondents were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1530 MSM responded to the question regarding previous suicidal ideation and attempts. Of these respondents, 26.01% had ever considered suicide and 12.55% actually attempted suicide at least once. Romantic gay relationship breakup was the number one cause of suicide behaviors, followed by self-objection to homosexuality, difficulties in finding gay partners or in getting used to heterosexual marriage life, sudden emotional hurts from unexpected events, illegal status of gay marriage in China and disclosure of homosexuality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey study has led to a better understanding of the factors contributing to suicide behaviors of MSM in China, which may have significant implications in developing preventive strategies against suicide behaviors in this unique group of individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266003, China. chhq6198@163.com.
authors.forename: Hongquan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Qingdao Sanatorium of Shandong Province, No.16 Zhengyangguan Road, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China. kacacpc@163.com.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266003, China. 69793226@qq.com.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Sex Health Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266003, China. pytx@263.net.
authors.forename: Beichuan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult