On an average day, there were 34 suicides per million people. The New Year's Day rate rose to 41 per million. Some researchers believe the jump occurs because New Year's Day is the end of holiday season, and people get depressed at the prospect of returning to work and everyday life. Psychiatric visits to hospital emergency departments reach their lowest point of the year one to two weeks before Christmas, and other holidays like New Year's Day, Easter and Independence Day. The studies conclude that if holiday depression does descend every December, its effects are too minor or it involves too few people to show up in the official statistics.
Experts emphasize that the holidays are a stressful time.
People eat and drink more than normal, change their usual patterns of sleep and exercise, contend with frustrating traffic jams at mobbed shopping centers, and spend more money than they can afford. People feel tired and stressed out. Balancing that, however, are increased levels of emotional support from families and friends that help people cope.