Juvenile suicide from family problems quadruples in five years

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of youths who committed suicide because of
family problems increased nearly four times over the past five years, but schools
seriously lack counseling staff to help such students before their death, a study
showed Friday.
According to the report compiled by the education ministry at the request of Rep.
Hwang Woo-yea, 54 students in primary and secondary schools took their own lives
last year because of troubles with their family. The figure was 15 in 2004.
The report also showed family discord was blamed for 177 of 623 student suicides
between 2004-2008, accounting for 28.4 percent. Depression was the next biggest
cause, 19.6 percent, and poor school performance came next at 10.1 percent.
"Increased individualism in families and stress from school and college
admissions put heavy pressure on students and push them to make an extreme
choice. But there are very few professional counselors at schools to prevent
suicides," said Kim Hee-dae, an adviser to school counselors.
Only 471 consultants are employed at over 10,000 schools nationwide to help the
students, and budget limits were discouraging schools from hiring more, the
report said.
brk@yna.co.kr
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