In the midst of the traditional December hubbub, I usually spend part of the month educating people on the myth that suicides go up in December. While people believe that suicides go up because of the holidays, it’s not true and there’s data to prove it. It is true that people are often more depressed, but the reality is that, whether we like it or not, in “normal” times, we’re forced to be in close proximity to people. This can be through family holiday events or just in parties and other gatherings we might be attending. Or even the shopping mall.
However, this isn’t a normal year.
While there is a glimmer of hope as the first vaccines have been given around the country, and there is light at the end of the tunnel (if you watched my video last week, you know that the light isn’t always there, but we’re getting glimpses of it), what we don’t know yet is how that will affect suicides this month.
There isn’t data yet to show that suicides are up although anecdotally it’s easy to say they are. But looking at the current situation, it’s also easy to see how more people might be suicidal – and act on it– this month as they face more isolation. For the people who might have been protected by spending time with loved ones (not that they wanted to, but that they had to per mom’s orders!), suddenly find themselves alone.
With their thoughts and with no one to keep them from acting on those thoughts.
Many people feel like this photo– walking alone with no one in sight. No one to distract them from the thoughts that are growing in their heads.
It’s going to be some months before we have enough people vaccinated that life can become to resume openly. In the meantime, especially this holiday season that is devoid of our traditional gatherings as we all try to stay out of hospitals and keep well, check on the people you about.
A little phone call can go a long way to keeping someone here with us until we can gather again.