Holiday suicide rise a myth

It’s a long-believed urban myth that suicides increase during the Christmas season. But local and national experts say that isn’t true. While winter and the holiday season can cause seasonal affective disorder and the blues, few people kill themselves in December. In fact, the number of suicides declines.

According to data collected by the National Center for Health Services, the nation’s suicide rate is lowest in December and peaks in the spring and fall. In many East Valley cities, the number of calls that 911 dispatch operators handle related to suicides stays about the same.

“Spring is a time of renewal when you start all over again,” said Terry Stevens, CEO of Tempe-based Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona.

In Gilbert, where 10 people have killed themselves in 2006, the highest number of suicide attempts occurred in May. December has been among the lowest so far.

Tempe dispatch operators received the most suicide-related calls in September, and in Chandler the most calls came in January.

Mesa 911 administrator Erika Wilson said while dispatchers don’t see an increase in suicide calls in December, they do experience a slight increase in overall calls.

To provide enough staff to handle the increased call volume, Mesa’s dispatching center keeps a list of people who want to work overtime and contacts them when someone calls in sick.

But December is still not as busy as March, when many East Valley communication centers have their highest volume of calls.

Rural/Metro Fire Department, which serves the Queen Creek area and Fountain Hills, among other communities, used its mandatory staffing policy in November to keep up with the increased calls. And on New Year’s Eve, Phoenix’s 911 call center will “fill every seat in the house,” said Tami DeRuiter, administrative manager in communications.

Crashes, falls from ladders and fires from fireplaces keep dispatchers busy over the holidays, said Chandler battalion fire chief Dan Couch. Domestic violence also increases during the holidays, police and mental health experts said. Reasons for feeling down come from a variety of causes, but one of them is a condition called seasonal affective disorder, Stevens said. When light decreases in the winter, people’s bodies produce fewer endorphins, a condition that can cause depression. Endorphins are feel-good molecules produced by the body and used internally as a pain killer.

Depression also could spring from increased expectations, increased use of alcohol and drugs, and other life experiences, Stevens said.

Experts speculate the reasons holiday suicide rates drop, despite increased feelings of depression, may be attributed to more social support.

They also said additional resources available for people around the holidays, such as food banks and toy drives, might help too.

Tips for coping

Dealing with stress and depression during the Christmas season:

• Keep expectations for the holidays manageable.

• Leave “yesteryear” in the past and look toward the future.

• Enjoy free activities, such as looking at holiday decorations around town.

• Do something for someone else.

• Know that excessive drinking will increase feelings of depression.

• Spend time with supporting and caring people.

• Save time for yourself.

• Start new traditions.

• Participate in activities when you feel you can. Source: National Mental Health Association and Terry Stevens, CEO of Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona.