It turns out that reports about suicide rates rising during the holidays really are exaggerated.
According to a study published in the September issue of the Social Science and Medicine rates of deliberate harmful behaviors — self-inflicted injuries, poisonings, drug and alcohol overdoses — actually decrease from December 19 to New Year’s Day, sometimes as much as 40 percent.
So why the myth that the holiday blues are so dangerous?
Perhaps it’s having experienced the strong disconnect between what we’re supposed to feel — happy, jolly and full of cheer — and how we really feel — stressed out, disappointed by high expectations — that we can believe this could all be too much for some people.
Maybe it’s because the media perpetuates it. Check out this from the Annenberg Public Policy Center which details how despite data to the contrary, newspapers continue to link the holidays and suicide.
People less likely to do self-harm during the holidays? That seems like something to celebrate — and report.
— Paula Hunt