Seasonality in Suicide: a Study of Farming Suicides in England and Wales

This study examined deaths in male farmers. Data on suicides between 1982 & 1999 by males in England & Wales aged 15 years & over were analysed. Seasonal patterns of suicide in farmers & nonfarmers were examined by nonparametric tests & harmonic analysis. No significant seasonal variation was found for farmers. This study reinforces recent findings that seasonal variation in suicide appears to be diminishing, even in an occupational group where this might be expected. (28 refs)