Suicide risk: Sunshine or temperature increase?

Résumé

Comments on an article by Benjamin Vyssoki et al. (2014). Vyssoki et al. investigated the effects of sunshine on suicide incidence and found a small yet significant positive correlation between the number of suicides and hours of daily sunshine for the day of suicide and up to 10 days prior to suicide after differencing for the effects of season, as well as a significant negative correlation between the number of suicides and daily hours of sunshine for the 14 to 60 days prior to the suicide event. In commentator's opinion, the change in hours of sunshine may be a better and more reasonable variable related to suicide. Vyssoki et al. addressed some climatic factors, including temperature, co-vary with sunshine. In fact, the commentator's previous study showed that the temperature increase, but not the hours of sunshine, was strongly associated with suicide rates. It is important to differentiate the effects of sunshine and temperature on suicide because the underlying mechanisms could be different. The commentator noted that Vyssoki et al. did not include temperature or the change of temperature in their study. The change of temperature could be the target for future studies on suicide. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved) TEMPÉRATURE SAISON