Q: The holidays are happy times for many people, but they are sad times for many people. Are suicides high at this time of the year?
—Eddie Webster, Douglasville
A: Suicide rates are actually at their lowest in December, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
However, the CDC says, there is a longstanding myth that suicides occur more frequently during the holiday months.
The Annenberg Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, which tracks media stories on suicide, reported that in 2009-2010, half the articles that made a direct connection between suicide and the holidays reinforced that myth, a number that was statistically similar to other years.
With more than 36,000 people taking their own lives each year, the CDC says suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among Americans.
Another 374,000 are treated in emergency rooms for self-inflicted injuries, according to the CDC.
“Suicide remains a major public health problem, one that occurs throughout the year,” the CDC states.
However, suicide rates typically peak in the spring and fall.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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