Weather and suicide: the present state of knowledge on the association of meteorological factors with suicidal behaviour.

OBJECTIVE

To review the available literature on the association between daily and longer-term weather data and the incidence of attempted and completed suicide.

METHOD

A computerized search supplemented by a cross-check of the references sections of the thereby identified papers was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 27 studies looking for a relationship between attempted or completed suicide and weather or climate data were found. Most of the papers reported a statistical association of suicidal acts with at least one weather factor. However, the results are not conclusive and in part contradictory.

CONCLUSION

Possibly due to the high variance in methodological approaches of the studies it is not possible to identify a specific weather condition associated with a generally higher risk for suicide. Weather and seasonal effects may interact with each other. Environmental effects on brain function and weather-related interactions of people may be involved in the occurrence of suicidal behaviour.