Myth: Suicides Increase Over The Holidays

There is no good scientific evidence to suggest a holiday peak in suicides.

• In a study of United States suicides over a 35 year period, there was no increase before, during, or after holidays.
  
• Data from Ireland on suicide in 1990-8 also failed to connect suicides with the holidays.

Around the world, suicides peak in warmer months and are actually lowest in the winter.

• In Finland, suicides peak in autumn and are lowest in the winter.
• In a 30 year study of suicides in Hungary, researchers again found the highest rates of suicides in the summer and the lowest in the winter.
  
• Studies of suicide rates from India also show peaks in April and May.
  
• Studies from the US reflect this pattern, with lower rates in November and December than in typically warmer months.

BMJ (British Medical Journal) 2008;337:a2769

Keep in mind that suicide is almost always connected to Depression (real, clinical, Depression, not the 'country-song-cry-in-your-beer' or 'Someone bought the dress before I got there' or 'my boyfriend just dumped me' "depression."

Depression is a physical disease — like cancer or diabetes — whose symptoms manifest, in part, in the form of mood disorders. Most mental illnesses are physical diseases that can be treated — as can most physical diseases — with medication and other therapies.

There you go.... 3 myths busted for the price of one.