Suicides in Spring

I found this article titled “Clues in the Cycle of Suicides” in the New York Times. It dispels a popular belief about suicides: it is during spring and early summer when suicides peak, not winter, which I thought would be the period with the highest number of suicides. Winter’s long stretches of darkness and cold, along with the holidays that tend to intensify loneliness and isolation contribute to increased symptoms of depression. In contrast, spring brings warmth and a promise of hope with another cycle of natural life.

To explain the connection between spring and suicides, article summarizes very interesting recent research concerning the relationship between inflammation and depression, and the decreased production of melatonin to the spike of symptoms of agitation and mania for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, raising the point that genetics (nature) contributes to development and symptoms of mental illness.

What I found most fascinating was the concept of the “broken promise” syndrome, which I interpret as the feeling of being let down because spring did not eliminate their despair. Maybe the bright cheeriness of spring made despair seem even darker – hopelessness worsened because spring’s promise of hope and renewal did not apply to them, unlike rest of the natural world. Not feeling better in spring became yet another indicator of their emotional and spiritual alienation.

When thinking about it this way, I realize I am only beginning to grasp the enormity of human despair and suffering and the interplay between nature and nurture. But rather than feeling overwhelmed by it I feel emboldened to meeting the challenge of helping people reconnect to themselves and to help them understand that nature does indifferently work against them. In my experience working with clients, understanding the genetics component can help ease the stigma that often comes with a diagnosis and help them take steps toward self-acceptance.