The Meteorological Factors Associated with Suicide

Looking through the history, people have always been associating suicide with weather conditions, trying to understand and identify the relationship between meteorological factors and suicide. The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the meteorological conditions in the time of attempted or committed suicides, and examine the possible link between the changes of meteorological factors and the frequency of suicidal behavior. Retrospective study of pairs covered the period from January 2003 to January 2006. Examinees included in the study were persons who committed or attempted suicide in the region of Mostar. Meteorological factors included the days of attempts or committing of suicide, with meteorological factors of the day immediately prior to the days of attempts or committing of suicide, as well as with average monthly values of meteorological factors. Meteorological factors of the days with suicidal behavior were similar to the day prior to the days with suicidal behavior, but there was significant difference between meteorological factors of the days with suicidal behavior and average monthly values of meteorological factors: maximum pressure was significantly lower in the days with suicidal risk, as well as pressure gradient. Regarding the seasonal periods, examinees most frequently attempted to commit suicide in April. Results indicate that meteorological factors do not act as an acute stress factor for suicide behavior, but its change over time may be the trigger for a suicide attempt