Almost 20 percent of South Korean teenagers with suicidal thoughts tried to end their life at least once, a new study showed Monday.

The paper, which was submitted as a master’s thesis at Kyonggi University and got an award from Chindfund Korea, researched a total of 9,438 Korean teens who considered suicide as of 2014. They made up 14.2 percent of all schoolchildren who agreed to participate in the research.

Among them, 19.2 percent survived an attempted suicide. 

The research by scholar Kim Jae-in found that the teens who had suicidal thoughts after being physically abused tended to improve their condition when given support and care from those around them.

However, those who suffered from suicidal thoughts and depression at the same time, and those who had already plotted or attempted suicide, did not see improvement in their conditions even after receiving emotional support.

“Teen suicide survivors, and those who have already planned their suicide, need professional attention and intervention,” Kim said in her paper.

“Only 0.4 percent of teenagers visit counseling centers. The authorities should make it mandatory for all schoolchildren to receive mental health check-ups regularly, and take those who are in need of help to mental health professionals.”

Meanwhile, 74 percent of the suicidal teens said they were constantly stressed, and 7.7 percent were treated at medical institutions after being physically abused at home and school.

Only 24.9 percent said they rely on their family when they are faced with difficult situations, while 40.4 percent said they can seek support from their friends in times of struggle. A very small proportion of them, 2.6 percent, said they can rely on their schoolteachers in such a situation.

A seperate study by Yonsei University on teen suicides found that Korean teens who are addicted to smartphones are more likely to commit suicide than those who aren’t. The research also suggested that smartphone addiction is a greater indicator of teen suicides in South Korea than gender, family structure, and socioeconomic status.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)