New research from the University of Pennysylvania challenges long-held misconceptions about suicide and the holiday season.
For decades, a dark seasonal narrative has persisted: The holidays are a dangerous time of heightened suicide risk. Now, a new content analysis shows the irony behind this myth: News media has perpetuated this misconception.
Seasonal–Not Holiday-Related–Changes in Mood
The analysis, conducted by the APPC of the University of Pennsylvania, found that 58 percent of newspaper stories linking the holidays and suicide upheld the myth, while 42 percent debunked it.
To investigate this phenomenon, Dan Romer, research director of the APPC, and his team scoured online databases for news stories that associated suicide with the holidays. They searched through LexisNexis and NewsBank databases using terms like “suicide,” “holiday,” “Christmas,” and “New Years.” Their search spanned from Nov. 15, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024, and they meticulously reviewed each article to determine its stance on the purported link between holidays and suicide. Articles that simply referenced these topics coincidentally were excluded from their analysis.
“There is a lot of personal experience of seasonal changes in mood as the winter approaches, and so I think it gets associated with the holidays,” Romer told The Epoch Times.
It’s really a phenomenon linked to winter, he noted. “In Australia, you see the same suicide pattern in their winter, which is our summer,” he said, advocating a broader understanding of the seasonal dynamics at play.
Romer also mentioned the phenomenon of the media giving advice on how to handle the holiday blues, which perpetuates talk of suicide. “All of these sources end up in stories produced by journalists,” he said.
Related Stories
The analysis also found that many newspaper articles that supported the myth cited well-meaning community figures or quoted experts who inadvertently promoted this misconception. Nevertheless, some articles effectively debunked the myth and provided valuable resources for readers grappling with mental health issues.
Lower Suicide Rates in Fall and Winter: CDC
Romer’s findings align with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that the months with the lowest average daily suicide rates typically fall within fall and winter—with December noted as having had the lowest average daily suicide rate in 2023.
Romer emphasized that perpetuating the holiday suicide myth serves no constructive purpose “since telling people that others are more likely to die by suicide is a risky message.”
This claim is particularly damaging for people in crisis who may view these narratives as affirmation of their own suicidal thoughts.
Expert Insights: Clarifying the Data
Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist in New York and director of Comprehend the Mind, reinforced the APPC’s findings, declaring that the data “effectively dispel the myth” that suicides increase during the holidays.
The research shows suicide rates are actually lower during this period than other times of the year, based on data trends, Hafeez told The Epoch Times.
The findings highlight the importance of understanding and correcting these inaccuracies to improve public awareness about mental health, she added.
“The report emphasizes that public health discussions should focus on data-driven issues rather than perpetuating false narratives,” she said, noting that understanding the real timing and causes of increased suicide risks can improve prevention strategies.
However, the end-of-year holidays do represent an increased suicide risk for certain groups, according to Hafeez. People facing social isolation, recent loss or grief, financial difficulties, or preexisting mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable during this time.
“These circumstances can amplify feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, or stress, even though overall suicide rates tend to decrease during the holidays,” she said.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The study highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a nationwide phone number implemented in July 2022. As of September 2024, just 15 percent of U.S. adults were familiar with the number, according to another APPC survey.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7, free, and confidential service for people in distress, experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, or those concerned about someone else.
It is an important public health strategy to reduce suicide risk by giving people a way to get help for someone in crisis, Hafeez said. “If we can prevent an attempt, it can reduce the chances of a subsequent event since those who are at risk often act impulsively.”
