In most industrialized or industrializing countries the number one cause of teenage deaths is road accidents; in China it’s suicide. Overwhelmingly suicides happen in the country, and overwhelmingly it is women who take their own lives by a three to one ratio. Many doctors in the country attribute this to marriage conflicts within rural communities. So far this school year (which began September 2nd in China) four students have tried to kill themselves, with one doing so. The authorities have sent out mental health questionnaires to thousands of students in Shanghai and local bookkeepers have pulled books off the shelves that have suicide related themes.

Suicides in China are expected to get even worse as the male population continues to far outpace the female population causing society to breakdown, as well as parents who continue to apply even more pressure on their children to succeed in the global world.

Debate Question: why do you think China has higher rates of suicide than most nations?