TAIPEI -- A Taiwanese official in charge of mainland affairs said Wednesday that local police are investigating the apparent suicide of a mainland student, the first such suicide to occur on the island.

The victim, a 20-year-old male student at Fu Jen Catholic University, was from Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, said Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan's mainland affairs chief.

The student, surnamed Liu, was discovered by his roommate in their dorm Monday evening and died at a local hospital after treatment failed, Wang said. The apparent cause of death was suicide by hanging.

Wang said police are still investigating the suicide, adding that authorities have sent condolences to Liu's mother, who is now in Taiwan.

Taiwanese authorities have vowed to offer more aid to help improve mainland students' physical and psychological health, Wang said.

As one of the island's most prestigious universities, Fu Jen Catholic University topped other Taiwanese universities and colleges by recruiting 104 mainland students in 2012.