Occurrence of suicide and seasonal variation

Objective To review the estimated suicide rates for the Region Metropolitan , the main socio-political center in Chile, for the period 1979-1994, and t o determine whether they follow a seasonal pattern. Method Data available for the period 1979-94 at the Forensic Services in Ch ile was analyzed using Analyses of variance. Results It was register 5,386 suicides. While the "warm" months (October, N ovember, December & January) concentrated 39.0% of cases, the so called "co ld" months reported 28.7%. This contrast is mode even clearer by the month- to-month analysis, showing the highest suicide rate in December(10.6%) agai nst the lowest rate in June (7.0%). Further statistical analysis revealed t hese differences to be significant. Conclusion The study shows that in Chile, representing as it does the South ern Hemisphere, the suicide rates tend to present a seasonal variation as h as elsewhere been determined for in the North Hemisphere.