This is a problem in chinese value system.

The Chinese value system is a very weak, even toxic system. If "做人上人" is the only thing that motivates people, when that fails, the person has nothing left to live for.  To make the matter worse,  the traditional Chinese belief  "study hard and you will get everything" is no longer a valid path to 人上人. So for most people at the bottom of the society, once they realize no matter what they do, they will never get to be 人上人, some just couldn't cope with the devastation and snap.