Could we speak of a seasonality of suicide? Perhaps, according to the conclusions of a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature Translational Psychiatry. According to this research, there would be a peak in suicides during the spring and the beginning of the summer, contrary to popular belief which imagines more passages to the act in winter.
This work was carried out by researchers from the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and Harvard. In total, more than 10,000 people answered different questions over six years. In the sample, respondents were divided into three groups: those who have ever attempted suicide, those who have suicidal thoughts and/or self-harm, and those who have no history of self-harm, thoughts or suicidal behavior.
Through this tracking, the researchers found that suicidal thoughts were higher in winter but it took several months to reach a tipping point and attempt to end one’s life. “The results show a latency between the peak of explicit and implicit suicidal cognition in the winter and the peak of suicide attempts and suicide deaths in the spring. Explicit suicidal cognition, which peaks in December, preceded implicit self-harm associations, which peak in February. These two peaks precede that of suicidal behavior in the spring-early summer.
Quoted in the university statement, Dr Brian O’Shea of ??the University of Nottingham, who led the study, elaborates: “It may therefore come as a surprise that spring, a time when it is believed that people’s moods improve, which is actually the time of year when people are most at risk of committing suicide. The reasons for this are complex, but our research shows that suicidal thoughts and mood are worst in December and best in June. Between these two points there is an increased risk of suicidal behaviors, and we believe this occurs because the gradual improvement in their mood and energy may allow them to plan and commit to a suicide attempt. »
According to this study, there would also be a time during the day when suicidal thoughts would be the most frequent. Specifically, it is between 4 and 5 a.m. that most dark thoughts occur. “Similar lagged effects were observed over a twenty-four hour period, with explicit suicidal cognition and mood peaking at 4-5 a.m. and implicit cognition lagging behind this peak,” the researchers point out.
