Is it just a coincidence or is a problem? Officials are still trying to sort it out, but in the meantime Apple’s largest Chinese manufactuer, Foxconn is asking its employees to sign a ‘no suicide’ pledge. Why is an employer making its employees do this? Well, this year there has been a rash of suicides at Foxconn, and both Apple and Foxconn brass are trying to make sense of it.

After a 19-year-old worker jumped to his death last week the number of suicides this year stands at nine. Foxconn is the manufactuer that makes Apple’s iPhones and iPods.

Foxconn Technology Group Chairman Terry Gou is at a loss for words at this point, but even he concedes there is only so much they can do. Foxconn opened its campus to reporters this week to give them a glimpse of how they operate.

Is it the pressure put on these workers, or the working conditions? One suicide was said to have occured when an employee lost an iPhone prototype. Foxconn contends their working conditions are excellent and they are bringing in mental health professionals to assist any employees that might be suffering from depression or have other problems that may want to talk about.