A Unique Monthly Distribution of Suicide and Parasuicide Through Firearms Among Israeli Soldiers

The monthly distribution of completed suicide & parasuicide by Israeli soldiers was analyzed during the 7-year period of 1984-1990. The monthly incidence of suicide & parasuicide through firearms was found to be negatively correlated with the duration of the daily photoperiod, when the latter was phase-advanced by 1-2 months. The monthly rate of combined suicide & parasuicide through firearms peaked in the winter month of December & steadily decreased to a nadir in October. (20 Refs.)