Debunking the myth that suicides increase during the holidays
- Charles Reams 1
- Dec 28, 2025
- 6 min read
Confusing talk can be concerning. Especially talk that links popular holidays with increasing suicide rates.
Can we get to the bottom of this rumor?
Enters Kathleen Hall Jamieson. Who is she? A renowned American communication scholar, professor at UPenn’s Wallenberg School, and Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, known for her research on political communication, misinformation, and the media’s role in democracy, co-founded FactCheck.org, and authored influential books like Cyberwar and Spiral of Cynicism. She has garnered numerous accolades for her work on science, politics, and public understanding.
The CDC corroborates the data used by Dr. Jamieson. Suicide rates are not static. They vary from year to year. But in general, the peak suicide months are June and July. December has the lowest rate with an uptick in January, but not at an alarming rate, she said.
Why is it important to debunk the myth that suicide peaks during the holidays?
Vulnerable souls are most negatively impacted by misinformation. For example, a depressed soul believes that suicide rates are high; this pseudo “knowledge” can influence him to kill himself, says Jamieson.
Suicide rates are the lowest during the holiday season. Promulgating this documented fact can keep the rate suppressed. It allows suicide prevention organizations to use resources more effectively during the peak suicide periods, thus saving more lives and limited resources.
Dr. Jamieson calls for responsibility and restraint in journalism. Fact-checking is the lifeblood of good journalism.
Funding can become a political factor. When it is a pertinent question to ask, who funds this foundation?
The foundation isn’t funded by donors the typical sense, but rather by an endowment established by the Annenberg Family, specifically Walter and Lenore Annenberg. The center was founded in 1993, with ongoing support from the larger Wallenberg Foundation, controlled by Wallis Annenberg. So, the major “donor” is the Annenberg family’s own wealth, primarily from the late Walter Annenberg’s media empire.
However, we must strive to save lives regardless if the survivors are few or many. In this sense, it is not primarily a numbers game.
Why is there a spike in suicides following all the Christmas festivities?
While December may be lower due to social support and a sense of shared purpose, the transition into January can present several challenges for vulnerable individuals.
The “Broken Promise” effect: The high expectations for joy, connection, and a “wonderful life” during Christmas can lead to significant disappointment and increased hopelessness when reality fails to meet ideals, say authorities.
Also factored in are a return to isolation, financial stress, changes in routine, and substance abuse, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): winter months have shorter, gloomier days and less natural light, which can contribute to depression, mixed with the other factors, making for an explosive blend.
Setting statistics aside, work to prevent suicide by using tried and tested methods and resources.
It is important to remember that if you or someone you know is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available right now. These resources offer confidential support:
Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States and Canada.
Text "HOME" to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.
Veterans can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
International resources can be found via the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the Befrienders Worldwide network.
Preventing suicide involves a multi-faceted approach focused on early identification, intervention, and creating supportive environments. Key strategies include:
1. Recognizing and Responding to Warning Signs
The most effective prevention starts with recognizing the signs that someone might be struggling. Common warning signs include:
Talking about suicide or feeling hopeless: Expressing intent to die by suicide, feeling trapped, or describing life as having no purpose.
Changes in behavior: Increased use of alcohol or drugs, withdrawing from activities, isolation from family and friends, extreme mood swings, or giving away possessions.
Changes in mood: Depression, anxiety, loss of interest, irritability, or humiliation/shame.
If you notice these signs, it is crucial to take them seriously, ask directly about suicidal thoughts, listen non-judgmentally, and help them connect with professional help.
2. Promoting Connectedness and Social Support
Strong social connections act as a powerful buffer against suicidal ideation. Strategies to increase connectedness involve:
Strengthening relationships: Encouraging open communication, fostering belonging in families, schools, and communities.
Reducing isolation: Creating intentional opportunities for people to interact and feel valued.
Peer support programs: Training individuals within a community (schools, workplaces, religious groups) to offer support and recognize peers in distress.
3. Enhancing Access to Mental Health Care
Ensuring that people can easily access and afford mental health services is fundamental. This includes:
Integrated care: Incorporating mental health screenings and support into primary healthcare settings.
Reducing barriers: Addressing the stigma associated with seeking help and improving insurance coverage for mental health treatment.
Evidence-based treatments: Utilizing effective therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which have proven efficacy in reducing suicide risk.
Special note: Remember the Robin Williams lesson. Merriment can mask even deep depression. So, be alert and reach out when you suspect masking.
Be on the lookout for friends, relatives, and acquaintances who may need innovative intervention. You could save a life.
Daily loneliness creeps closer to you
For many, the holiday season is their favorite time of year. It is a very different story for others.
In fact, a recent report shows that one person in four feels lonely, yes, even during and especially after the holiday season.
How can this be, and why?
Social isolation is blind, say global authorities. It can overwhelm anyone. It is not just the old and the isolated; young, healthy, active, married, and financially well-off persons are also affected.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, U. S. Surgeon general, says “the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”
Not surprisingly, doctors recognized that satisfying companionship is good medicine. The effects are clinically measurable.
Perhaps you have experienced that the holidays are a letdown due to unrealistic expectations fueled by the media, the stress of overspending and planning, difficult family dynamics, and the loneliness or grief that contrast sharply with the forced festive cheer, leading to disappointment when the magical day doesn’t match the idealized image. The “magic” often fades into anticlimax after the buildup, leaving acute feelings of emptiness and exhaustion.
Others are so happy and thoroughly satisfied with their holiday experience that they cannot see the few lonely souls, partly because they mask their symptoms masterfully and partly because loneliness at this time of year is genuinely inconceivable for them.
The accurate information helps in several critical ways:
Reduces suicide contagion: Spreading the false idea that suicides are common during the holidays can inadvertently influence vulnerable individuals and make them feel that suicide is a more prevalent or normalized occurrence. Correcting this myth removes a potential trigger and source of misinformation.
Directs resources to actual high-risk periods: Suicide rates are actually lowest in December and highest in the spring and summer months. By debunking the myth, public health systems, crisis centers, and mental health campaigns can strategically allocate resources and attention to the times of the year when the risk is genuinely highest, making prevention efforts more effective.
Encourages accurate help-seeking: The myth might falsely reassure families and individuals that the "protective" holiday season means a crisis can be overlooked. Correct information ensures that people recognize risk patterns year-round and know that support is necessary whenever a crisis occurs, regardless of the season.
Promotes responsible media reporting: Organizations like the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) have long tracked media reports, encouraging journalists to follow national recommendations for reporting on suicide, which advise against promoting unverified seasonal increases in suicide. This collaboration helps ensure that the media provides accurate data and valuable resources, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number, which can save lives.
suicide rates are lowest during the Christmas holiday period but tend to increase in the days and weeks following, particularly around New Year's Day. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the "broken promise effect" or a "postponement effect".
The CDC has noted that there is no consistent trend for higher suicide rates in January; in fact, suicides are generally most numerous in late spring and summer months.
Historically, provisional data has shown some variations:
In 2020, the number of suicides in January was higher than in January 2019.
In 2021, the number of suicides in January was lower than in January 2020.
Overall data from the CDC for annual rates indicates that suicide rates generally climbed for nearly two decades, with a brief dip at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic before rising again. Provisional data for 2024 shows a slight national decline in the overall age-adjusted suicide rate compared to 2023.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the CDC Foundation for more resources.
Suicide Data and Statistics - CDCMar 25, 2025 — Suicide rates. Suicide rates increased 37% between 2000-2018 and decreased 5% between 2018-2020. However, rates return..
