Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 5 , Pages 277-279, July 2009

Relationship between suicidal cases and meteorological conditions

  • Klára Törő, MD PhD

      Affiliations

    • Semmelweis University, Department of Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Üllői út 93, 1091 Budapest, Hungary
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +36 1 2157300; fax: +36 1 2162676.
    • ,
  • György Dunay, MD

      Affiliations

    • Semmelweis University, Department of Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Üllői út 93, 1091 Budapest, Hungary
    • ,
  • Judit Bartholy, PhD DSc (Meteorogist)

      Affiliations

    • Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Meteorology, Pf. 32, 1518 Budapest, Hungary
    • Tel.: +36 1 3722945.
    • ,
  • Rita Pongrácz, PhD (Meteorologist)

      Affiliations

    • Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Meteorology, Pf. 32, 1518 Budapest, Hungary
    • Tel.: +36 1 3722945.
    • ,
  • Zsófia Kis, (Meteorologist)

      Affiliations

    • Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Meteorology, Pf. 32, 1518 Budapest, Hungary
    • Tel.: +36 1 3722945.
    • ,
  • Éva Keller, MD PhD (Director)

      Affiliations

    • Semmelweis University, Department of Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Üllői út 93, 1091 Budapest, Hungary

Received 4 December 2007; received in revised form 24 October 2008; accepted 9 December 2008.

Abstract 

Meteorological factors are well known to modulate human health status and the rate of death cases. The suicidal rate might have been influenced by climatic and seasonal triggering factors. In this study 4918 suicidal cases (3099 male, 1819 female) in Budapest were investigated in connection with climatic data, as daily maximum, minimum temperature, and air humidity. The most frequent methods of suicide were intoxication, hanging and jumping. A mild seasonal variation was found, however, the rate of suicidal death was influenced by warm temperatures. Higher frequency of suicidal deaths was detected in warm weather with low relative humidity, which implies dominantly dry anticyclonic meteorological conditions. Our results suggest that the medico-legal investigation may help specific suicide prevention programme regarding to the climate change and meteorological conditions as potential risk factors of suicidal cases.

Keywords: Meteorological conditions, Suicide, Seasonal distribution, Climate change

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PII: S1752-928X(08)00241-2

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.12.015

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 5 , Pages 277-279, July 2009

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