title: Nothing like Christmas--suicides during Christmas and other holidays in Austria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contrary to the myth that suicides increase around Christmas, multiple studies reveal that suicide rates decrease towards Christmas and return back to normal or even peak in the beginning of the new year. We aimed to replicate this effect for Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analyses were based on the official suicide statistics 2000-13 using Poission regression and Bayesian changepoint analysis. We also investigated changes of suicide rates during other major holidays and weekends. Seasonal effects were controlled for by using restricted control periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicide rates declined before Christmas and were minimal on December 24th, remained low until the end of the year, peaked on New Year's day, but remained at average level in New Year's week. In contrast, suicide rates increased in the week after Easter and on Mondays/Tuesdays after weekends. No significant effects were found in the week after Whitsun and summer holidays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with other holidays, Christmas time is clearly associated with fewer suicides in Austria, too, and may even counteract the 'broken promise' effect. This finding may help clarifying common myths in suicide prevention and may enhance the proper timing of preventive efforts.
authors.affiliation: 1 Suicide Prevention Research Program, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria 2 Department of Suicide Prevention, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy I, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria 3 University Institute of Clinical Psychology, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria m.ploederl@salk.at.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plöderl
authors.affiliation: 1 Suicide Prevention Research Program, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria 2 Department of Suicide Prevention, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy I, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria 3 University Institute of Clinical Psychology, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fartacek
authors.affiliation: 1 Suicide Prevention Research Program, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria 2 Department of Suicide Prevention, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy I, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria 3 University Institute of Clinical Psychology, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kunrath
authors.affiliation: 1 Suicide Prevention Research Program, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria 2 Department of Suicide Prevention, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy I, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.affiliation: 1 Suicide Prevention Research Program, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria 2 Department of Suicide Prevention, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy I, Christian Doppler Clinic, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fartacek
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Oberndorf, Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5110 Oberndorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Datz
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Oberndorf, Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5110 Oberndorf, Austria.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederseer
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D006693:Holidays / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*