Like many people, I always thought that suicide rates spike during the holidays. If you are lonely and depressed, the cheerfulness of the holidays make you feel even more lonely and depressed in contrast, right? Wrong. It turns out the idea that more people commit suicide during the holidays is common misconception. In fact, suicide rates are lowest in December, and peak in the spring and the fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics. The reason why is unclear. Some mental health experts speculate that all the hubub and family togetherness during the holidays may temporarily prevent people from committing suicide.
"The holidays are a time when relationships are emphasized and celebrated," says Thomas Ellis, PsyD, APPB, director of Psychology at The Menninger Clinic in Houston and author of books about the treatment of suicidality. "Research is really clear that relationships act as a strong buffer to suicide."
See my Menninger News and Notes brief for more about suicide and the holidays.