$ Unraveling the Myth: December Holds the Fewest Suicides Despite Holiday Suicides Perceptions - The Minds Journal

Unraveling the Myth: December Holds the Fewest Suicides Despite Holiday Suicides Perceptions

Untitled design 2023 12 07T143211.944 2

As the holiday season unfolds, a common belief persists that December witnesses an increase in suicides. However, recent research challenges this myth, revealing that not only does December have the fewest suicides, but media outlets play a substantial role in perpetuating the misconception about holiday suicides.

Contrary to popular belief, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania reports that December registers the fewest suicides, with the average number of U.S. suicides per day in November and December of 2022 ranking as the lowest months of that year. This data contradicts the widespread belief that suicides surge during the holiday season.

The center’s study points out that, as recently as 2022 to 2023, 40% of news stories connecting the holidays with suicide incorrectly supported the myth of an increased suicide rate during this period.

This perpetuation of misinformation has contributed to approximately 80% of adults incorrectly identifying December as the month with the highest number of suicides. The Annenberg Center has been monitoring media organizations since 1999, revealing that almost half of U.S. news outlets continue to inaccurately report a higher rate of suicide during the holiday season.

Dan Romer, the research director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, notes the unfortunate influence of media on public opinion, stating that persistent misimpressions about holidays and suicide persist.

However, he acknowledges a positive trend with 60% of news outlets debunking the myth, suggesting an increasing number of media organizations fact-checking their information.

Holiday Suicides Myth Uncovered

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) further supports the evidence, indicating that the months with the highest suicide rates in 2022 were June, followed by May, July, and August.

Notably, July has historically recorded the highest rate of suicide, challenging the assumption that cold, gloomy weather during December translates to a higher risk of depression or suicide.

Southern Hemisphere data from Australia and Brazil, where the seasons are reversed, align with this trend. In these regions, late spring and summer months from November through March experience higher rates of suicide deaths, peaking during mid-summer, particularly in January and February.

Romer emphasizes that the seasonal variation in suicide rates is a significant factor, with lower rates during the U.S. holidays primarily due to the winter season. He dispels the psychological association between the shorter, gloomier days of winter and suicide, emphasizing that reality contradicts this perception.

Mental health experts express concern about the potential harm caused by perpetuating falsehoods regarding suicide rates. Dr. Alecia Vogel-Hammen, assistant fellowship director for research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, warns against sensationalizing the risk of suicide, emphasizing the need to avoid conveying the false notion that more people die by suicide during the holiday season.

Such misconceptions can be detrimental to individuals struggling with mental health issues, contributing to a distorted perception of the prevalence of suicide events.

In conclusion, the myth of increased suicides during the holiday season faces scrutiny as research and data consistently debunk this perception.

Despite the persistence of misinformation in media reporting, efforts to fact-check information are on the rise. This revelation prompts a reevaluation of societal beliefs surrounding mental health during the holiday season and emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting to prevent unwarranted fear and stigma.


— Share —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

25+ Words That Describe Feelings You Can’t Explain

Best Words That Describe Feelings You Can't Explain

Ever been overwhelmed by an emotion but found yourself at a loss for words? Perhaps you’ve felt an inexplicable feeling of joy, nostalgia, or longing, and struggled to describe it in your own language. So, take a look at some unique words that describe feelings you can’t explain.

The complexity of human emotions often exceeds the bounds of common vocabulary, leaving us unable to capture what we feel fully.

Luckily, there are a list of words that describe feelings from around the world that beautifully encapsulate these elusive emotions.

These words, often untranslatable into a single term in English, highlight the richness of language and the nuances of emotional experience.

Whether it’s a fleeting moment of bittersweet reflection or an overpowerin

Up Next

fggg

dgfdgdgd

Up Next

test post

test post vhghg

Up Next

“Barbie Movie” Production Creates Shocking International Pink Paint Shortage!

Barbie Movie Production Creates Shocking International Pink Paint 1

Hold onto your paintbrushes! The world is reeling from a jaw-dropping shortage as Greta Gerwig’s highly-anticipated “Barbie Movie” hits the production stage, causing an unprecedented shortage of Pink – Rosco fluorescent paint.

In a recent interview with Architectural Digest, Sarah Greenwood, the production designer of the highly anticipated Barbie film directed by Greta Gerwig, unveiled a surprising consequence of the movie‘s production: an international shortage of pink paint.

A

Up Next

Most of us don’t know what we want

Most Of Us Don’t Know What We Want

Do you know, what you want ?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Up Next

How do you feel about the word F***k

how do you feel about the word fk 1
Up Next

Happy for Nothing

happy for nothing 1

Happier in my own way was waiting for this day

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Hoping for dreams to come true and believing one day I will see it through

Spend my childhood being in dreams, not realizing how a broken heart will heal