The question of the undulating nature of suicides has been of interest to scientists since the end of the 19th century. These studies do not stop in our time. Scientists confirm that there is a certain rhythm of ups and downs in the number of suicides, and are trying to find their causes.
Thanks to the efforts of educators, psychologists and doctors, the number of suicides is steadily decreasing. Scientists are conducting research on this topic, helping to understand the patterns that are observed in suicides. Thus, professionals can focus on those who are prone to suicide at certain times, and provide them with psychological assistance.
Days and nights
According to research conducted by Yu. T. Myagkov, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, the least number of suicides occurs from 4 to 8 in the morning. The maximum gloomy mood among the population reaches from 20 to 23 pm. In Russia there is a saying "The morning is wiser than the evening" - people have already noticed in ancient times that in the first half of the day the brain works more efficiently, thinks "more correctly".
In fact, suicidal thoughts indicate a violation of the main instinct inherent in all living things - the instinct of self-preservation. The greatest number of suicides occurs at a time when the nervous system is exhausted and requires rest, and thoughts about problems do not allow sleep.
Holidays are just as destructive as waking at night: on weekdays, 50-60% fewer people commit suicide. Australian sociologist R. Hassan associates this trend with alcohol abuse on such days.
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Weeks and months
Scientists G. Maldonado and J. Kraus conducted a large-scale study covering the period from 1925 to 1983. This clearly demonstrated the increased propensity of Californians to suicide on Monday. Some scholars are inclined to believe that Monday is a hard day in Russia too. Such data are cited by GI Devyatkova, who collected material for scientific work in the Perm region.
But according to Myagkov, who studied the temporal dependence of suicides in the city of Ivanovo, the maximum number of suicides occurs on Friday and Sunday. In any case, the end and beginning of the working week is a difficult test for the psyche. For suicides committed against the background of alcoholic intoxication, the most "fruitful" day is Saturday.
Interestingly, for women, according to Myagkov's research, the most dangerous day is Sunday, when 40.6% more people leave life of their own accord than on other days. At the same time, in men, the indicators are more or less even, but on Friday suicides occur 16% more often than during the week.
The last 10 days of the month are also critical. During this period, the number of suicides in the middle age was by 16%, and among young people - by 22% higher than in the first decade. This pattern is difficult to explain, but there are suggestions that for working people these 10 days before pay are the most difficult. Here, according to some psychologists, fears of being fired if the monthly plan is not fulfilled are superimposed. Not the least role in this is played by microcredit programs with high interest rates, and the inability to properly manage finances.
Critical age
Without understanding the age composition, it is difficult to objectively assess the dynamics of suicides. Therefore, many countries collect statistics to help prevent suicide. The information is freely available, for example, on the website of the World Health Organization.
According to these statistics, the most vulnerable was the group of people aged 15 to 29. This category of the population is experiencing colossal physiological and psychological overload. For the first time adolescents and young people face the realities of life, begin to join the society and experience stress in this regard. Life in society is more difficult than under parental supervision.
In addition, many boys and girls at this time are faced with problems of inter-sex relations, and this is the main reason for suicide. Hormonal storms take a lot of energy and disrupt a stable state of the psyche, which is superimposed on problems in personal life (24.32% in relation to all causes of suicide), misunderstanding of parents (17.57%) and conflicts with peers (14.86%).
Since fertility is also characterized by ups and downs, in certain years it turns out that the number of young or elderly people is greater than middle-aged people. Therefore, there is a slight increase in sad statistics in this time period. Simply put, if in some year there was a surge in the birth rate, then after 14 years there comes a period when these children enter puberty. Accordingly, over 15 years, the statistics of suicides will increase, and then will decline.
Old age is not a joy
Most elderly people over 70 years of age have poor health - many of them suffer from incurable diseases. Generational conflicts overlapping with illness create fertile ground for depression. A feeling of uselessness is added to this picture, since not only children, but also grandchildren by this time start families, and the professional lack of fulfillment of older people aggravates their gloomy mood.
From a medical point of view, in addition to the processes of age-related degradation of various tissues, a decrease in the level of serotonin and dopamine - hormones responsible for the feeling of calmness and joy - is added. Many people in the older age group also experience a decrease in melatonin synthesis, which leads to sleep disturbances and, as a result, chronic depression from fatigue.
Do not discount senile changes in the central nervous system. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes disrupt the coordinated work of the brain. Critical thinking betrays sick people, it seems to them that, having passed away, they will take a break from problems. For this age group, affective suicides are most characteristic, without long and careful preparation, under the influence of momentary moods.
Economic forces
The economy is also experiencing booms and busts, which affects the number of suicides. In high-income countries, young people account for about 3/4 of all suicides, or 75%. Here, similarly, the influence of society is clearly noticeable - the desires of boys and girls do not coincide with their capabilities. This is the age period when you want to dress like in advertising, use the same gadgets and other benefits of civilization. At the same time, adolescents and people just starting their careers do not have a sufficient material base to realize their desires.
In countries with a low and medium level of economy, the peak of suicide occurs between the ages of 30 and 49. The maximum number of suicides is committed in the forties. Here, in principle, everything is also quite transparent. Forty years is the age when you are no longer in great demand on the labor market, young people are stepping on their heels, and a weak economy does not provide an opportunity for self-realization in other areas.
Small bursts of suicide among fans in the days of the death of their idols in general do not change the statistics - these are too rare occurrences. The same as the ritual suicides of supporters of various religious sects. Against the background of the global scale of the problem, they are a drop in the ocean.
The improvements observed in Russia in connection with the rise in the standard of living and qualified psychological assistance are slowly but steadily reducing the number of suicides. In 2016, the suicide rate dropped to 15.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is the smallest number in the last half century. The study of the cyclical dynamics of suicide is only gaining momentum, but today it can really help prevent many suicide attempts, and there is a hope that the suicide rate will continue to decline.