BEIJING, Sept. 10 -- Local book stores in Shanghai have taken a suicide-themed cartoon book off their shelves after one student killed himself and several others tried to do so since the new semester began.

    Meanwhile, books on psychological health for young people and suicide prevention are selling well.

    Bookuu Book City has banned the sale of a comic book titled "The Rabbit Who Wanted To Kill Itself."

    "The comic used to be popular among young readers," said Zhu Bin, public relations officer at the book city.

    In the story, the rabbit comes up with various ways of killing itself, including pouring sulfuric acid to its head, jumping off a building and sticking its head into a revolving door.

    Zhu also said that since last Wednesday, the sales of books on teenage psychological guidance have soared, as parents are becoming more concerned about the mental health of their children.

    "In the past, reference and exercise books were parents' favorites. However, last weekend, the first weekend after the new semester started, there was a sales rush on psychology-related books," he said. "Some even sold out."

    Jiang Li, a publicity officer at the Shanghai Book Mall, said the rising popularity of these reference books was directly related to the recent tragedies.

    On September 2, a teenager who was a top student jumped to his death from his sixth-floor apartment. A day before, a 14-year-old girl jumped from her apartment and may lose her sight as a result of head injuries. A teenage boy was stopped that same day as he tried to jump from a school building.

    The latest incidents occurred yesterday when a 17-year-old senior-high-school boy swallowed sleeping pills but was taken to the hospital in time and another 17-year-old boy was rescued when he jumped into the Suzhou Creek in apparent attempt to end his life.

    Liu Mingbo of Fudan University's Psychological Health Education Center said that suicide-related books could have negative effects on teenagers.

  (Source: Shanghai Daily)