Weird associations between birth month and suicide risk factor

[Made4TV]

I came across this Wikipedia page and was surprised to see this:
Birth rates of people who later complete a suicide show disproportionate excess for April, May and June compared with the other months. Overall, the risk of suicide increases by 17% for people born in the spring–early summer compared with those born in the autumn–early winter; this risk increase was larger for women (29.6%) than for men (13.7%).[14]​

Research works in Sweden show that those who preferred suicide by hanging rather than poisoning or petrol gases were significantly more likely to be born during February–April. Maximum of the month-of-birth curve for preferring hanging was for March–April and the minimum was for September–October.[15]​

It surprised me (and my birth month is in the "higher risk" category). I think it'll be interesting to see if this holds steady over time and to watch for discoveries about why…and how it might possibly bolster claims of those who want medical aid in dying for mental illness suffering.

 

[SilentSadness]

This seems like coincidences to me, I don't think peoples' decision to ctb is affected by something so trivial. Suicide isn't a "risk" that happens by accident, it's a choice.

 

[glendaaa]

Interesting, my month is the lower risk category.

 

[Bioforever12]

I just finished a stats class and honestly I definitely wouldn't trust these stats, still kinda funny i'm in the higher section. But could have lurking variables or small sample size or a bias on how the data was collected. Data can be used to push adjusted in so many ways to push a narrative

 

[pinkribbonscars]

My birthday is in may lol

This seems like coincidences to me, I don't think peoples' decision to ctb is affected by something so trivial. Suicide isn't a "risk" that happens by accident, it's a choice.

There are absolutely risk factors and trends for ctb. Idk how strongly correlated birthdate and ctb is, but it is statistically more common to ctb in the spring. Marginalized groups (LGBTQ+, the disabled, the unemployed, poc, those in poverty) are at a higher risk. The risk and methods for ctb can be predicted by age, gender, country, and more. This is on average and not an absolute though of course.

I don't think studying the causes and risk factors of ctb is a problem. I think the idea that suicide is a preventable tragedy and "a temporary solution to a temporary problem" rather than inevitable is tho

 

[alonely]

Super interesting, thanks for sharing OP

 

[Dolphin55]

Correlation, not causation

 

[Made4TV]

Here's the original page and sources. The suicide stuff is more sidebar I think.

Influence of seasonal birth in humans - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[John8]

maybe something to do with vitamin D during pregnancy

 

[-Link-]

Parents and their tendency to hold their newborn babies close to them...

In warmer temperatures as you would see in spring and summer months, this parental behaviour decreases. Newborn babies get less warmth and closeness from parents during their first several months of life.

In cooler temperatures as you would see in fall and winter months, this parental behaviour increases. Newborn babies get more warmth and closeness from parents during their first several months of life.

Coincidence? Don't look at me. I'm not a scientist.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

There are absolutely risk factors and trends for ctb. Idk how strongly correlated birthdate and ctb is, but it is statistically more common to ctb in the spring.

Correlations do not in of themselves mean anything. Spurious correlations exist.

 

[ladylazarus4]

Probably not causation... but my birthday is in the "higher-risk" months too... interesting.

Also- evisceratedjester- I found that website recently and I've been having a blast looking through it. So funny.

 

[depthss]

thats crazy, my birth month is in sept, ive never really considered hanging, but ive done poison\ overdose twice lol

 

[Tig]

Sounds crazy to me.
Lol, can't even come up with a good reason to do that study.
Governments and insurance companies pay lots of money for such things though.

 

[etherealspring]

this is a very strange coincidence, i was born in may

 

[sancta-simplicitas]

Born in April, preferred method partial. Coincidentally also Swedish.

I feel targeted.

 

[getoutgrave]

this is really interesting food for thought but doubt it means anything at all. although i am a june baby lol