It’s so important that we not perpetuate the myth that suicides increase during the holidays. According to the CDC, November and December are the months with the fewest suicides. This article, No, Suicides Don’t Rise During the Holidays, published in The Atlantic, begins by reminding us of the myth that suicides go up this time of year:
A common type of Internet story this time of year, other than the ones about how to bake holiday cookies and how to avoid gaining weight from said holiday cookies, is the one about how to handle holiday stress. You know, the existential crises brought on by solitude, or forced closeness, or whatever personal demons snow+presents+relatives+red cups summon. A common kicker for these studies of seasonal bleakness? “No wonder suicides spike around the holidays.”
It can be good to remind readers that, though most people feel merry during December, it’s also normal to get depressed during the holidays. What’s terrible and dangerous, though, is telling people—falsely—that suicides spike around this time.
Let’s make sure to support and love each other year-round.
