Published: December 26, 2008 10:57 pm      

Stress, depression and the holidays

Nineteen suicides reported in Lauderdale County in 2008

blivingston@themeridianstar.com



For some people, the holidays bring unwelcome guests — stress and depression.

And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect Hallmark holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — work, parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, caring for elderly parents or kids on school break, and scores of other chores.

So much for peace and joy, right?

It is a commonly held belief that suicide rates in America rise sharply during the Christmas Holiday season as well. 

But surveys and statistics seem to show that may not necessarily be the case anymore. According to Dr. Susan Eaves, behavioral specialist and therapist for Weems Community Mental Health Center, the long held belief may simply be a myth.

"The research shows that June and July are the peak periods for suicides," said Eaves. "The holiday season, however, certainly shows the highest rate of depression in people."

Could this period of depression carryover into the late spring and early summer months where the incidence of suicides is more prevalent?

"Quite possible," replied Eaves.

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said his experience tends to lend support for the spring-summer time period as well.

"I see far more suicides during the late spring period than I do now," he said. 

So far this year, Cobler has worked 19 suicides — two within the past week. There were 22 suicides reported in 2007, he said. 

Dr. Rachel Vreeman and Dr. Aaron Carroll, MD, who are assistant professors of pediatrics at Indiana University's medical school said in a study, "Suicides don't increase around the holidays or in the winter. Worldwide, suicide rates are actually higher in the summer. And while the holidays might indeed be a difficult time for some, there is no good scientific evidence to suggest a holiday peak in suicides," Vreeman and Carroll wrote.

The World Health Organization noted that someone commits suicide every 39 seconds, making it one of the leading causes of death in the world. An estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal attempted suicides occur every year.

The holiday season tends to bring on deep feelings of loneliness, financial stress and other triggers that can either lead to or enforce overall depression. It could be as simple as not being able to spend Christmas with family. Or it could go much deeper than that. Among the elderly, who are the second highest demographic for suicides besides 15 to 25 year olds, the season for joy and family can be devastating if there is no one to share the time with.

"Holidays tend to magnify our stress levels," Eaves said.

Relationships, finances, or in this day and age the lack of finances, and physical demands can all put a huge strain on anyone. Each of these three points alone can cause depression to set in. Couple them with more problems such as the loss of a job or the recent loss of a loved, a person can be thrown into depths from which they can't see a way out.

It is undeniable that depression, in its many forms, leads the majority of people contemplating suicide to actually act.

"Seventy percent of people who resort to suicide suffer from depression," Eaves said. "What may be even more alarming is that two-thirds of those people who committed suicide in the United States did not seek any help or treatment."

The Mississippi Department of Health reported that in 2007 there were 392 suicides in the state in 2007. Of those, 328 were committed by whites while the remainder were done by non-whites. When it comes to men and women suicide victims and the methods used to accomplish the task, almost 60 percent of the men resorted to using firearms while the majority of women, 38 percent, were more likely to die from self poisoning or overdosing. 

"I see more females in my office," Eaves said. "Some of the cases are cries for help while others are legitimate attempts to end their lives. Regardless, we have to treat each and everyone of the cases with strict attention to the details and assess the risk factors."

It is estimated that each suicide in the United States leaves an average of six people intimately affected by the death, either as a spouse, parent, significant other, sibling, or child of the deceased person. These people are referred to as survivors. Of course, this estimate does not represent the total number of people who may be affected by an individual suicide. For example, the suicide of a child may leave not only his/her immediate family to make sense of the act, but also his/her extended family, school and entire community.

"You have to treat adolescent survivors differently than you would adult survivors," Eaves said. "With adolescents you have to be real careful how you approach the healing process."

There are far more reasons, both medically and psychologically, for people to consider suicide. Maybe the biggest message Eaves wanted to get across to people is to pay attention to loved ones and friends. Those loved ones or friends may be sending them clues as to their intentions.

"Don't be afraid to sound the alarm if you suspect someone is acting in a suspicious  manner," Eaves said. "Ask questions, listen to the answers, and if you have just the least bit feeling something more serious is happening, contact professionals."