The effect of meteorological variables on suicide

Classification of suicidal behavior calls in emergency medical services: a systematic review

“…According to the data collection period, two studies collected data for less than one year [ 33 , 38 ] and fourteen for one year [ 11 , 19 , 20 , 23 – 25 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 37 , 41 , 42 ]. Another study gathered data for two years [ 40 ], three for three years [ 35 , 36 , 39 ], one for six years [ 27 ], two for seven years [ 10 , 22 ], and another two for ten years [ 26 , 30 ]. According to the sources of extraction of the calls, thirteen studies used an EMS Coordination Center database [ 10 , 11 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 33 – 35 , 39 , 40 ], four used a hospital database [ 27 , 28 , 32 , 38 ], and eight used ambulance records [ 19 , 24 , 29 , 30 , 36 , 37 , 41 , 42 ].…”

Ambient temperature, testosterone, and suicide

“…4 Meteorological influences such as the ambient temperature may affect human behavior, including suicidal behavior. [5][6][7][8] Several research reports indicate that a higher ambient temperature is associated with an increased risk of suicide. [5][6][7][8] Page et al 5 studied the relationship between daily suicide counts and temperature in England and Wales and found that above 18 o C, each 1 o C increase in mean temperature was associated with a 3.8 and 5.0% rise in suicide and violent suicide, respectively.…”

“…[5][6][7][8] Several research reports indicate that a higher ambient temperature is associated with an increased risk of suicide. [5][6][7][8] Page et al 5 studied the relationship between daily suicide counts and temperature in England and Wales and found that above 18 o C, each 1 o C increase in mean temperature was associated with a 3.8 and 5.0% rise in suicide and violent suicide, respectively. Using comprehensive data from multiple decades for both the United States and Mexico, Burke et al 6 found that suicide rates increase 0.7% in United States counties and 2.1% in Mexican municipalities for every 1 o C increase in monthly average temperature.…”

“…Kim et al 7 examined the temperature-suicide relationship using data collected from multiple locations in 12 countries and found that the risk of suicide increased with the increasing ambient temperature. Kayipmaz et al 8 found that an increase in the ambient temperature leads to an increase in the number of suicides in Turkey. It has been proposed that the association between higher ambient temperature and increased risk of suicide is related to alterations in the serotonergic system, including a decrease in the levels of l-tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin.…”

“…It has been proposed that the association between higher ambient temperature and increased risk of suicide is related to alterations in the serotonergic system, including a decrease in the levels of l-tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin. 5,7,8 It is interesting to hypothesize that changes in testosterone levels may mediate the effect of the ambient temperature on suicidal behavior. Several animal and human studies conducted over the past decades have shown that an increase in the ambient temperature reduces testosterone secretion.…”