Abstract

A Department of Health report listed the suicide as one of the main causes of death (No. 9 in ranking, to be exact) in Taiwan in 2002.

As the middle and old age people, the employed, and the teenagers are among the groups most likely to commit suicide, "taking one's own life" seems to have become a trans-societal collective behavior that cannot be taken lightly.

Factors leading to suicide are complex. The act means different to different age groups.

To the middle and old age people, it might represent a feeling of "getting tired of life." As the family size becomes smaller, for instance, the aged might feel being "marginalized" or even deserted.

Those who are working might feel that their job pressures and frustrations are too much to bear. A high incidence of suicide by the family breadwinner indicates that there is a lack of welfare policyin support of the head of the family.

As to the teenagers, suicide is one of the collective behaviors, and the reasons behind it need to be explored in more detail. Family violence may have played a role in taking the youth to the extreme.

.....the full text in chinese