[The yearly distribution of suicide and parasuicide]

Abstract

The current psychiatric literature emphasizes the important risk factors of suicide and parasuicide, which include the following: age, family status, psychopathology, substance abuse, biological markers and so forth. Recently, more emphasis has been placed on the yearly distribution of suicide and parasuicide. This distribution includes parameters such as national and religious holidays, birthdays, anniversary days, the lunar cycle and weather. It has been suggested by many researchers that this distribution is an important precipitant to a cumulative and complicated psycho-pathological process, terminating in suicidal behavior. Analysis of theories and research findings regarding these topics are provided, together with suggestions for research and prevention.