Resource Tag: WEATHER

This study sought to determine the effects of weather & time of year on suicide attempts by carbon monoxide poisoning. Cases of patients in western Washington State referred to a regional hyperbaric oxygen treatment centre from 1981-1995 were reviewed retrospectively. The study population consisted of 264 patients attempting suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on 251 […]

This study was conducted in order to determine temporal variation in telephonic service utilization in a crisis intervention centre as well as its relationship to environmental factors. Before and after weekends or public holidays, there was no significant increase in telephone calls. There was almost no assocation between number of telephone calls & atmospheric pressure, […]

Meteorology is often thought of as a field with highly developed techniques for forecasting rare & severe events. Risk assessment of another type of rare & severe event – violence to others – occurs in mental health law. The analogy between these 2 forms of risk assessment is explored in this article. How meteorologists go […]

The effect of climate on suicide in 17 Italian towns between 1974-94 were studied. Northern towns had higher suicide rates than Southern locations, but no correlation was found with longitude. Exposure to the sun & temperature had negative relationships with female suicide rates. Higher suicide rates corresponded to dry places with less sun. The author […]

The seasonal variance of suicide & attempted suicide in Italy from 1974-94 was studied to determine the extent & nature of seasonal influences on suicidal behaviour. A significant effect of seasonal change was detected with a clear peak in spring. This effect was greater among males than females. The monthly distribution of suicide & attempted […]

Over 12,000 parasuicide admissions were analysed by month, season, & in relation to meteorological data which were measured close to the admitting hospital. Marked seasonal & monthly variations in mean daily parasuicide numbers were seen in women but not men. Small but highly significant correlations were demonstrated between parasuicide rate & weather parameters, more markedly […]

Hurricane Andrew caused major physical & emotional damage to the residents of Dade County, Florida in the summer of 1992. This article reports on a number of suicide attempts by elementary-school children a year after the storm. Counselors are wary of blaming the incidents directly on Hurricane Andrew saying that the motivations for suicide are […]

The relationships between weekly number of suicides & homicides in Belgium during 1979-1987, & various climatic measurements were investigated. Higher ambient temperature & an increase in air temperature in the previous few weeks were the most significant climatic predictors of the violent suicide rate. No significant time-relationships between nonviolent suicide or homicide & any of […]

This review of 1,040 reported suicides in British Columbia between 1985 & 1988 shows variations in suicide rates that are related to population size. Elderly suicides are disproportionate in some, but not all, regions. Urban population centres have lower suicide rates than low population areas. Explorations of the factors which explain these variations may provide […]

In this study, completed suicide was analyzed in 19 regions of France for the years 1973 & 1975. Regions were compared by environmental variables (ambient temperature, sunlight duration, & precipitation) & sociological factors (social cohesion, socioeconomic status, status of women, & social support). Both the stepwise regression analysis & the controlled regression analysis revealed that […]

In this chapter, the author examines the physicochemical correlates of suicide. He critiques the findings & proposed explanations of studies that focus on the association of suicidal behaviors with neurochemistry, pharmacology, electroencephalography, genetics, & meteorology. (CM)

This research was undertaken to analyze a defined group of suicides in relation to social factors, drug abuse, & the influence of weather. Subjects were 151 patients (62% female, 38% male, average age 37.6 years) admitted to the ICU, U of Duesseldorf, after attempting suicide by poisoning. A biosynoptic daily analysis was used to determine […]

Suicidologists have tried to test the possibilities for relationships between the occurrence of suicide & temporal or meteorological variables. An examination of this research reveals that weather, holidays, moon phases & sunspots do not seem related to the suicide rate. Some seasonal variation seems possible, & a relationship to the time of day seems fairly […]

This brief letter to the editor addresses an article concerned with the high rate of suicide in Vermont. The high quality of the State’s death certification system is offered as an explanation for apparent high rates. The speculation that weather is influential is refuted. (LH)

Author suggests that the east-west variation in suicide and the north-south variation in homicide is not associated with either weather variations or ratings of southern culture.

It sometimes appears that people are more interested in the weather than in practically anything else, a factor that influences what they do, how they feel, & how they react. But can weather be shown, in an objective & scientifically controlled way, to have a significant influence on a person’s mental state? Does it influence […]

Letter to the Editor 6 refs.

This paper analyzes the impact of weather variables on rates of violence in six prisons in Kingston, Ontario. The methodology used is forward inclusion multiple regression. Conclusions drawn include that indices of geo-magnetic disturbances have statistically significant inverse relationships with attempted suicides/self-inflicted injury rates among male prisoners during the summer months. Consistent differences between male […]

A sample of 151 patients who had attempted suicide by poisoning was analyzed with regard to age, drugs consumed, causal factors and influence of weather. 15% of the patients had previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders. Main causes were partnership conflict and other interpersonal conflict. Drugs included barbiturates, aggressive chemicals, tranquilizers or combinations. A significant correllation was […]

Presents an analysis of monthly suicide rates in France from 1978-1982 in which seasonal variations in environmental, sociological, & biological factors were compared to seasonal patterns of suicide. A clear seasonal variation in suicidal behavior was detected, with patterns differing as a function of age. (58 refs.) (LH)

An analysis of 825 days in which suicides appeared to cluster in The Netherlands indicated that, while there is no simple direct correlation between aspects such as temperature, windspeed & precipitation & suicide, it appeared that any strong thermoregulation mechanism of potentially suicidal persons. The subject must be predisposed to suicide such that a slight […]

European patterns of suicide correlate with national annual rates of sunshine. Possible influences of the climate on behavior are examined, and differences between European and American regional patterns of suicide are discussed. Physiological as well as psychological motivations for self-destruction may play a greater part in human behavior than is commonly anticipated. 17 REF. (NBB)