Impact of Meteorological Factors on Suicide Attempts and Completed Suicides in Croatia, Osijek-Baranja County

Significant changes in the values of temperature, pressure, humidity and cloud cover can participate in the human behaviour including the mood disorders (especially depression and bipolar disorders) which can trigger suicidal ideas or their realization. The aim of this study is to estimate the connection between the aforesaid weather changes and a committed suicide along with the suicide attempts. We conducted a retrospective study in Osijek-Baranja County in the period from 2000 to 2011. Meteorological, demographic and epidemiological analysis was performed on 569 suicides and 478 suicide attempts (total of 1047 events). We analyzed the values of the above-mentioned meteorological parameters at the exact time when the event had happened, as well as three days before the event and one day after the event, comparing it with the monthly mean values. The results showed that the changes of temperature and pressure were significantly related with the suicides i.e. suicide attempts in general, while by separating genders, a connection with all examined meteorological factors was found by woman whereas men expressed significance only in the matter of temperature changes. Despite the fact that suicidality is caused by numerous factors, this study confirms that a sudden change of weather in the days preceding the suicide can be a trigger to suicidal behaviour. The study also suggests that in the matter of suicidal behaviour, female population is more susceptible to sudden weather changes.