A unique monthly distribution of suicide and parasuicide through firearms among Israeli soldiers

Abstract

The monthly distribution of completed suicide and parasuicide by Israeli soldiers was analyzed during the 7-year period of 1984-1990. Although parasuicide in general showed a constant incidence throughout the year, the monthly rate of suicide as well as parasuicide through firearms varied during the year in a similar way. The seasonal pattern of completed suicides, the vast majority of which occur with firearms, was correlated with the seasonal pattern of parasuicides through firearms. The combined variability of the two seasonal patterns was found to be significantly different from a pattern of a constant monthly incidence with a peak in December and a nadir in October. The monthly incidence of suicide and parasuicide through firearms was found to be negatively correlated with the duration of the daily photoperiod, when the latter was phase-advanced by 1-2 months. This unique pattern of seasonal incidence of suicide and parasuicide through firearms is different from most of the patterns reported in the Northern Hemisphere.

Seasonal and socio-demographic predictors of suicide in Ireland: A 22year study

“…Unlike other studies (Lester and Frank 1988, Yip et al 1998, Preti and Miotto 1998Maes et al 1993;Linkowski et al 1992) the seasonal effect in our study was not limited to violent methods. As in those studies the peak was identified in the warmer months and differing from a study of an Israeli sample which identified a peak during the colder months (Schreiber, et al 1993).…”

“…However, the results are confusing and conflicting. In Belgium (Maes et al 1993) and Israel (Schreiber et al 1993), researchers have described a clear seasonal pattern to deaths by violent methods, although the December peak, during the colder months in the Israeli study differed from the summer peak in the Belgian study. In the Southern hemisphere, Yip et al (1998) found a seasonal trend for death by hanging in Australia but none in New Zealand.…”

Influence of Method on Seasonal Distribution of Attempted Suicides in Italy

“…Culturally tied factors of a social or psychological basis may likewise influence the occurrence of selfdestructive acts in an opposite way. In their study on firearms suicide and attempted suicide among Israeli soldiers, for example, Schreiber et al [66] were unable to detect a seasonal distribution of attempted suicide events since a peak occurred in December. The major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot) occur, in effect, during the months of September-October, a period which coincides with the trough observed by Schreiber et al [66] in their time series.…”

“…In their study on firearms suicide and attempted suicide among Israeli soldiers, for example, Schreiber et al [66] were unable to detect a seasonal distribution of attempted suicide events since a peak occurred in December. The major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot) occur, in effect, during the months of September-October, a period which coincides with the trough observed by Schreiber et al [66] in their time series. A major effect of national holidays on suicidal behaviour had previously also been reported in the USA: Phillips and Wills [67] found a drop in the suicide rate in the few days before as well as during all holidays.…”

Seasonal variations: Risk factor of commiting suicide

“…Takođe, pokazalo se da postoji sekundarna koncentracija suicida u jesen među udatim ženama i udovicama, što čini mesečni dijagram bimodalnim. Sa druge strane, samoubistva među razvedenim muškarcima i udovcima pokazuju unimodalnu varijaciju sa pikom u jesen [18].…”