When we think about mental health, we often picture the darker winter months of the year. But struggles with mental health don’t disappear when the weather gets warmer.
In fact, recent research has found that suicide rates in part of Canada tend to peak during the summer months, not around the winter holidays as many people expect (1). Other studies from other countries have found that suicide tend to peak in spring when the day starts to get longer (2,3,4,5).
Mental health is a year-round issue. Someone can be enjoying a sunny day, spending time with friends, or posting vacation photos and still be having a difficult time.
A quick text, phone call, or conversation can make a difference. Check in on the people you care about, not just during the hard seasons, but all year long. 💛
If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out to the Suicide Crisis Helpline (9-8-8) or check out our sources for more resources.
- Seasonal variations in suicide mortality in Canada: A nationwide analysis | Canadian Journal of Public Health – Springer Nature Link | February 2026
- Seasonality of Suicidal Behavior | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health – MDPI | January 2012
- Seasonality of suicide: a multi-country multi-community observational study | Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences – Cambridge Core | August 2020
- Analysis of the seasonal pattern in suicide | Journal of Affective Disorders – ScienceDirect | August 2004
- Suicide rates and the association with climate: A population-based study | Journal of Affective Disorders – ScienceDirect | June 2006
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