The Occurrence of Suicide in Severe Depression Related to the Months of the Year and the Days of the Week

This study investigated the distribution of suicide during the months of the year & the days of the week in people with severe depression. 1,206 Swedish inpatients with severe depression from 1956 to 1969 were included. 114 of these patients died by suicide. There was a significant peak in October/November for men. There was a preponderance of suicide on Sundays for both sexes (31% of all suicides). No significant peaks of monthly distribution were found for the females in this sample. (28 refs) (SC)