Suicide is when a person takes their own life. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with the intent to end their life, but they do not die.
Suicide is a major public health problem.
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- In 2019, 47,511 Americans died by suicide
- In 2019, there were an estimated 1.38 million suicide attempts
It is a myth that suicide rates rise during the winter, especially around the holidays. The Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of Pennsylvania has found that suicide rates are actually lowest from November to January.
The most suicidal months of the year occur in the spring: April, May, and June are when suicide rates are highest.
It is not fully understood why suicide rates peak in the spring, but theories include:
- During the winter and early spring, people who are depressed may be surrounded by others who feel down because of the weather. When spring arrives, people who are depressed because of the weather cheer up, while people who are depressed for other reasons remain depressed and they must confront their own unhappiness.
- There is a documented increase in manic behaviors in the springtime and bipolar disorder symptoms worsen during the spring. This could also trigger the self-destructive behaviors often seen with mania.
- During the winter, many people essentially emotionally “hibernate.” The pressures of social interaction are lessened and people who may be depressed feel as if they are allowed to stay in, sleep more, and interact with others less. But as the weather warms up, these social pressures return, and those who feel once again forced into social engagement may feel stressed.
- Spring is also a time when allergies resurface. Allergic symptoms are markers of inflammation in the body, and there are studies that have shown associations between inflammation and mood disorders.
- An environmental effect of warmer weather is poorer air quality, which can increase the likelihood of depression and suicidal behavior. This is also believed to be due to increased particles in the air triggering inflammatory responses that can bring about worsening mood.
What Are Warning Signs and Symptoms of Suicide?
Warning signs a person may be thinking of attempting suicide include:
- Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
- Planning or looking for ways to kill themselves, such as searching for lethal methods online, stockpiling pills, or purchasing a gun
- Talking or thinking about death often
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Talking about feeling extreme guilt or shame
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Talking about feeling trapped or feeling as if there are no solutions to their problems
- Extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy
- Feeling unbearable emotional or physical pain
- Taking risks that could lead to death, such as reckless driving
- Using alcohol or drugs more often
- Displaying anxiety or agitation
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Giving away important possessions
- Saying goodbye to friends and family
- Putting affairs in order, such as making a will
If someone you know is showing any of these warning signs, they could be at risk for attempting suicide. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to anyone. All calls are confidential.
What Are Risk Factors for Suicide?
Risk factors for suicide include:
- Depression and other mental disorders
- Substance use disorder
- Family history of a mental disorder or substance use
- Family history of suicide
- Chronic pain
- Exposure to family violence, including child abuse and physical or sexual abuse
- Presence of guns or other firearms in the home
- Personal history of suicide attempts
- Having recently been released from prison or jail
- Exposure, either directly or indirectly, to others’ suicidal behavior, such as that of family members, peers, or celebrities
Contributors to suicide risk include:
- Stressful life events
- Loss of a loved one
- Legal troubles
- Financial problems
- Interpersonal stressors
- Harassment
- Bullying
- Discrimination
- Relationship problems
- Shame
What Is the Treatment for People At Risk for Suicide?
Different types of therapies and interventions can help people dealing with suicidal thoughts.
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Helps people learn new ways of dealing with stressful experiences
- Can help people learn to recognize thought patterns and think about taking different actions if suicidal thoughts occur
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Shown to reduce suicidal behavior in adolescents and reduce the rate of suicide attempts in adults with borderline personality disorder
- Helps people learn to recognize when feelings or actions are disruptive or unhealthy and can teach people skills to help them cope more effectively with upsetting situations
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Brief intervention strategies
- Creating a safety plan or crisis response plan with specific instructions for what to do and how to get help when having suicidal thoughts can help reduce a person’s risk of acting on those thoughts
- Following up with people at risk for suicide can also help lower the risk of future suicide attempts
- Increasing safe storage of lethal means can help reduce suicide attempts and deaths by suicide
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk, can help to reduce suicidal thoughts
- Collaborative care
- A team-based approach to mental health care in which a behavioral health care manager works with the person, their primary health care provider, and mental health specialists to develop a treatment plan
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References
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html
https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/suicide-rates-spike-in-spring-not-winter
https://www.medscape.com/answers/2013085-157705/what-are-seasonal-variances-in-suicide
https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/spring-suicide-an-unlikely-combination/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-faq
https://cams-care.com/
https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/suicide-rates-spike-in-spring-not-winter
https://www.medscape.com/answers/2013085-157705/what-are-seasonal-variances-in-suicide
https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/spring-suicide-an-unlikely-combination/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-faq
https://cams-care.com/