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.