Traditional Holidays and Suicide

Abstract

This work examined the relationship between traditional National holidays and suicide. Using a base of 13,651 cases, only for Christmas was there a statistically significant suppressing effect on suicide. For all four of the holidays examined there were fewer than the expected number of suicides during the weeks before and centered on the holiday. The week following these holidays, however, showed the reverse pattern, indicating a release of the suppressing effect associated with the holiday.