The Suicide Holiday Myth, Now With COVID

Steven Novella, Sci-Based Med

You may have heard that the suicide rate increases during the winter months due to seasonal affective disorder (the winter blues) or that it specifically increases during the holiday season. People are quick to invent explanations for this correlation, most commonly that the holidays exacerbate social isolation, loneliness, and economic or other struggles. No such explanations are necessary, however, because the correlation between suicide and holidays is a complete myth.