Suicide—which claims over 1 million lives annually—is an important global healthcare issue, and examination of the impact of charcoal burning on overall suicide rates is required for effective prevention policies.1 2 Lin et al2 and Liu et al1 note that suicide by charcoal burning and other forms of gas poisoning (grouped together by the International Classification of Disease (ICD)) made up approximately one-quarter (24% in Hong Kong and 25% in Taiwan) of all suicides in 2002. However, the ICD …