Elderly suicide and weather conditions: is there a link?

Studies of the effect of meteorological factors on suicide have yielded inconclusive and often contradictory results. This may be due to a variety of methodological problems including small numbers and variability in the definition of suicide. The relationship has not been examined in the elderly.

To study the effect of weather conditions on suicide rate in an elderly population of 40,000 of North Cheshire aged 65 and above. In this study, coroner's verdicts of suicide and open verdict which were recorded in a specified period were included.

Five-year data of deaths resulting from suicide within North Cheshire were analysed in relation to meteorological data, which were measured at the nearest Met office to the study population.

Significant positive association was demonstrated between suicide in the elderly and hours of sunshine (p < 0.01) and relative humidity (p < 0.05). These effects were independent of sex.

Weather may influence suicide in the elderly, probably interacting with biological and social variables. The rate of reported suicide appears to be positively related to fine weather conditions, during early summer, and not to extreme weather conditions as previously reported. Method of death appears to be also associated with weather conditions.