Timing of Completed Suicides Among Residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1951-1985

Potential biases in other studies of suicide timing were assessed & minimized in this population-based study of suicide in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Using more accurate data, previous reports of no excess suicides on birthdays or during 3 American national holidays were confirmed. Previous findings of excess post-holiday suicides & suicide peaks on Mondays were not observed in this study. Using the date of death instead of the actual date of suicide is argued to be sufficient for most research.