Too Hot to Handle?
In a new study reported in the August 2007 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, a statistical link has been found linking high temperatures and incidence of suicide. A statistical analysis of the relationship between daily termperature and daily suicide counts in England and Wales between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 2003 showed no evidence of a spring or summer peak in suicide rates. However, at temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius, each 1 degree increase in mean temperature was associated with a 3.8 and 5.0% rise in suicide and violent suicide respectively. During the 1995 heatwave in the United Kingdom, suicides were found to have increased by 46.9%. On the other hand, no change in the suicide rate was seen during the 2003 heat wave. The implication of these results suggest that increased awareness of the potential for suicide during heatwaves is needed.
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