U.S. Researchers: Suicide Rates Down By 40 Percent This Holiday Season

Los Angeles (AHN) - Christmas season spells less incidents of suicide around the world, according to a new study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States on Saturday.

The research team, headed by Dan Romer, the university's director of Annenberg Adolescent Communication Institute, further claimed that contrary to previous reports that suicide rates showed an upward trend during the "ber" months, the study revealed that it is lower by as much as 40 percent.

Specifically, the period in review is within Dec.19-26, and even extends to New Year's Day.

In the December issue of the journal Social Science and Medicine, research scientist at the University of Oxford said that the decrease in number of suicide cases during holidays maybe attributed since people feel "protective" during Christmas - since it is considered as the best time of the year when anyone receives phone calls, greeting cards, gifts,great attention and affection from others.

Most people commit suicide through drug alcohol overdoses, and self poisoning, with depression, strained family relationships and social isolations as main reasons for risking their lives.

Latest statistics revealed that an average of 13.2 people in every 100,000 die by suicide, with incidences higher in men than women- indicating a ratio of three cases of male suicides for every one case of female suicide.