Suicides don't actually spike in winter

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [The holiday-suicide link is a myth]( By Haley Weiss Health Reporter Winter can be a stressful time, with shorter, gloomier days and the pressure of the holidays. This might be partly why a common misconception about mental health pops up every year about this time: that more people die by suicide around the winter holidays. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth, says Dan Romer, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, whose new report on the subject was published yesterday. Here's what his data show: - December tends to have one of the lowest suicide rates of any month—suggesting a protective effect of the holidays. - Still, the media perpetuates the myth. 40% of stories published by news organizations about suicide during the 2022-2023 holiday season suggest a holiday-suicide link, the authors estimate. - Christmas movies may play a role in reinforcing this misconception. Some of the classics, like It's A Wonderful Life, have themes that prompt viewers to “imagine what the world would be like if you weren’t here,” says Romer. Members of the media should work year-round to make sure that only data-based information about suicide is shared, Romer says, to avoid doing more harm than good. [READ THE REST]( Share This Story What Else to Read [Hospitals Should Be Redesigned to Improve Care]( By Danish Kurani Danish Kurani explores three ways hospitals can be redesigned to benefit both patients and doctors. [Read More »]( [23andMe Hack Breaches 6.9 Million Users' Info, Including Health Data]( By Kristen V. Brown / Bloomberg Privacy advocates have long warned that sharing DNA with certain testing companies makes consumers vulnerable. [Read More »]( [Why Skiing Is a Ridiculously Good Workout]( By Markham Heid Skiing—whether alpine or cross-country skiing—offers a unique combination of health benefits. (Originally published in 2018.) [Read More »]( [Global Carbon Emissions Keep Increasing]( By Seth Borenstein / AP The world this year pumped 1.1% more carbon dioxide into the air than last year because of increased pollution from China and India. [Read More »]( [How to Find Your New Favorite Hobby]( By Angela Haupt Challenging, fun, and engaging hobbies have the power to make us happier and healthier. [Read More »]( AN EXPERT VOICE "People say, 'Everybody's going to get [COVID-19].' That's probably true, but it doesn't mean you need to get it three or four or five times. Reduce that number [as much as possible] for your health." —Dr. David Smith, chief of infectious diseases and global public health at UC San Diego Health If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Haley Weiss and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Mandy Oaklander. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.