Amhuxj.343 net.suicide utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!hocda!ho3e2!houxi!ihnss!eagle!mhuxj!sbg Fri Jan 1 01:46:58 1982 Holiday Blues Fable This is only an hypothesis but I believe I can see a reason for a high suicide rate during the month of April which closely parallels the 'Holiday Blues Fable'. The 'fable' claims that suicides are likely to occur during the December holiday season because people already very depressed feel much self pity at not being able to share in the joyous holiday season. Note however the holidays are only 4 weeks in anticipation (from Thanksgiving to Christmas) and only 1 week in reality (Christmas to New Years). Even the most clinically depressed person should find some rationalization for out lasting 5 weeks. April, is typically when the weather starts becoming nice. With clearing skys people begin to looking forward to summer with its associated trips to the beach, vacations, etc. Unlike the holiday season, it is 3 months in anticipation and 3 months in reality. The prospect of living through half a year's worth of depressions while others are are enjoying the sunshine might well push many over the breaking point. Again this is just an hypothesis but is does seem plausible given the durability of the 'Holiday Fable'. Has anyone heard of any other possible causes (similar of different) for the increased suicide rate during April? Steven B. Goldsmith mhuxm!sbg ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.