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The Frequency of Suicides around Major Public Holidays: Some Surprising Findings
Author(s) -
Phillips David P.,
Liu Judith
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1980.tb00696.x
Subject(s) - balance (ability) , psychology , demography , sociology , neuroscience
ABSTRACT: This paper analyses the recorded number of U.S. daily suicides, 1972–1976. The paper shows that: there is a dip in suicides on and just before major public holidays; there is a peak in suicides just after these holidays; and, the dip in suicides is somewhat larger than the peak—hence, there is a net decrease in suicides around the holidays. On balance, the holidays appear to reduce the number of suicides, not increase them, as was previously believed. In addition, previous research has focussed on the negative psychological impact of holidays. Our findings indicate that holidays have a positive component, which should be taken into account in future research.