[Association between temperature, duration of sunshine and suicidal mortality in Germany (2015-2023)]

Climate change is considered one of the central public health challenges of the twenty-first century. While the somatic consequences of heat exposure are well documented, the evidence on mental health effects, particularly suicidal mortality, is so far limited in Germany.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between temperature, sunshine duration and the number of suicides in Germany during the period 2015-2023.

Data from the official cause of death statistics (International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10): X60-X84 intentional self-harm and suicide) were linked with monthly meteorological data from the German Weather Service (DWD). Correlations between meteorological variables and monthly suicide cases were analyzed complemented by a comparison of pandemic and nonpandemic years.

On a monthly level both mean temperature (r = 0.34; p < 0.001) and sunshine duration (r = 0.36; p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with the number of monthly suicides. The correlation was particularly strong in 2020-2021 (r = 0.53).

Continuous monthly meteorological variables, such as temperature and sunshine duration are associated with suicidal mortality in Germany. These are exploratory findings describing concurrent associations and do not establish causality. The findings highlight the need to incorporate mental health vulnerability into heat action plans.