Taiwan: Island of the Blues

One of my adult students, who I've taught for 3 years, committed suicide last week. A boyfriend of a good Taiwanese friend committed suicide a few years ago. So many of my other friends have talked about, contemplated, or even attempted suicide.

I wonder what contributes to such a high suicide rate in Taiwan? Too much social pressure so succeed? Too uncertain and bleak a future, with Taiwan slowly being absorbed into a faceless and souless Chinese Empire? Living in a material culture with no spiritual, ethical, or political values, as so many Taiwanese Strawberries do?