title: Effects of Parliamentary Elections on Suicide Rates in Hungary.
abstract: Background: Phillips and Feldman reported a decline in suicides leading up to the American presidential elections, but Wasserman argued that elections had no impact on suicide. Aims: The present study explored the impact of elections on suicides in Hungary. Method: The study examined changes in the number of suicides in Hungary during the period 1990-2010 on the days of parliamentary elections, and in the weeks and months surrounding the elections. Results: There was no significant impact from the elections on the number of suicides. Conclusion: The data from Hungary replicated the results of Wasserman rather than those of Phillips and Feldman.
authors.affiliation: <location>Hungarian Association for Suicide Prevention, Budapest, Hungary</location>
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zonda
authors.affiliation: <location>Károli Gáspár University, Budapest, Hungary</location>
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kmetty
authors.affiliation: <location>The Richard Stockton College, Galloway, NJ, USA</location>
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.affiliation: <location>Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary</location>
authors.forename: Mónika Ditta
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tóth
keywords: Hungary; election; social integration; suicide