CNN: Is suicide risk higher during the holidays? Experts weigh in on study and how to cope

[Dennis Donovan]

CNN - (archived: https://archive.ph/kyTx2 ) Is suicide risk higher during the holidays? Experts weigh in on study and how to cope

By Kristen Rogers CNN
Published 7:56 AM
December 28, 2024



Editor’s Note: Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters. In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.

(CNN) — For many people, celebrating New Year’s Day can include reflecting on a life well lived or a chance to start anew. But for some, the holiday may have dark undertones, according to a recent large study.

More than 700,000 deaths by suicide were reported globally in 2019, accounting for roughly 1.3% of deaths that year, according to the World Health Organization. The study authors, consequently, wanted to better understand how the risk for suicide may vary depending on the day of the week or holidays. Multiple studies have assessed these relationships in the past, but findings were mixed or limited in geographical scope, the authors said — so they analyzed more than 1.7 million suicides in 740 locations in 26 countries that occurred from 1971 to 2019.

“We found that Mondays and New Year’s Day were associated with a higher risk of suicide in most countries,” said Dr. Yoonhee Kim, lead author of the study published October 23 in the journal The BMJ, in a news release. Mondays accounted for about 15% to 18% of suicides, the report found. “However, the risk on Christmas was generally less pronounced and varied across regions,” he added.

“Other national holidays, aside from New Year’s Day and Christmas, were generally linked to a lower risk of suicide,” said Kim, an associate professor of global environmental health at the University of Tokyo, but that wasn’t the case for Central and South American countries. Additionally, men had a more pronounced risk of suicide on New Year’s Day.
Overall suicide rates were highest in South Korea, Japan, South Africa and Estonia, and lowest in the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay, the authors found.

/snip

Of note: CNN put this (potentially-life saving) story behind a paywall on their website. I fucking hate CNN.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. One reason is that to some people, it's unbearable to see so many people happy

and joyous while they aren't. And the implied pressure to join the parade when they can't.

It could be having depression due to death of a loved one or family member. Or the memory of someone who has died. Or can't celebrate as that death occurred in the middle of the holiday season. Or losing a job. You get it.

One Christmas about 10 years ago, I was in a "blue funk". Not that I hated Christmas. I just couldn't get into it. And I heard about a local "Blue Christmas" service. Not a celebration. But a gathering for like-minded people (not necessarily Christian) who wanted to feel free to grieve, to feel depressed, to be left alone.

It actually was quite good for me. I entered the church. It was dark with a myriad of flickering candles. I could smell incense. There was background music of organ music, not the joyful Yuletide tunes, e.g., Joy To The World. You could sit alone or with a companion. The minister had a quiet, comforting voice, validating our mixed feelings about the season. And reminded us that perhaps our grief/depression was connected to the fact that we were approaching the darkest day of the year and soon, there would be more light if we would consider waiting a little longer. If you were so inclined, attendees were invited up to receive a hug from the minister and to light a candle for someone who was absent.

After the service, a light buffet was served.

I've only needed one visit. I wonder if this opportunity has saved lives from suicide.