Family trouble was the biggest cause of suicides among students in elementary through high school at 37.5 percent in the first seven months of this year, data showed Tuesday.

According to data submitted by the education ministry to Rep. Kim Tae-won of the ruling Saenuri Party, a total of 88 students in grades one through 12 committed suicide in the period, of which 33 students, or 37.5 percent, took their own lives due to family trouble.

Depression or pessimism was the next biggest reason at 15.9 percent, followed by poor grades at 11.3 percent, relationship problems with the opposite sex at 10.2 percent, physical defects and illness at 5.7 percent, and school violence and group bullying at 2.3 percent.

High schoolers accounted for the largest proportion of student suicides at 60, followed by 25 middle schoolers and three elementary school children.

The total number of student suicides has fluctuated over the past five years, with 137 in 2008, 202 in 2009, 146 in 2010, and 150 last year, according to the data. (Yonhap News)