Discussion Suicide Satistics on New Year's Day /The Pressure of Midnight

[Reishi]

New Year's is often talked about like a fresh start, but for a lot of people it's the opposite...it's seen as the finish line.
Research has shown that the number of successful suicides are higher around New Year's Day compared to other holidays.
It isn't just about the day itself, but how much this pattern increases every year. More and more people are talking about feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or left behind when the calendar flips. Expectations rise, support doesn't always follow, and silence fills the gaps leading to suicide.

In terms of numbers, studies show that about 0.39% of annual suicides occur on New Year's Day, compared with 0.23–0.27% on other major holidays like Christmas or Halloween. In some datasets, the risk of suicide on New Year's Day is approximately 33% higher than on a regular day. These patterns are observed across multiple countries and over decades, suggesting that this is persistent and widespread .
The turning of the calendar can amplify feelings of failure, loneliness, and despair. The pressure to "start fresh" or measure up to societal expectations can feel unbearable.

 

[sashashutup]

jumping off while seeing the fireworks would be beautiful

 

[ericharrisisgod]

jumping off while seeing the fireworks would be beautiful

nice pfp. I agree.

 

[girl from mars]

it's such an interesting statistic.

I would also like to add that suicide rates also tend to be the highest during the late spring months. my theory as to why that happens is similar to your reasoning of the idea of "a new start." there's more sunshine, flowers blooming, green leaves appearing on trees... it can make someone feel so behind

 

[Reishi]

it's such an interesting statistic.

I would also like to add that suicide rates also tend to be the highest during the late spring months. my theory as to why that happens is similar to your reasoning of the idea of "a new start." there's more sunshine, flowers blooming, green leaves appearing on trees... it can make someone feel so behind

Absolutely correct, out of all the seasons spring does have the most suicides. But specifically the two months with the most are July and August.

 

[wordsoutb4sumnelsin]

Yeh, we're kinda simple creatures in some ways.
Psychology around beginnings, ends, transitions... Ah,

Absolutely correct, out of all the seasons spring does have the most suicides. But specifically the two months with the most are July and August.

Yep, likely at least partly due to seasonal transition, and I's say certainly weather/temperature being a factor as well. Tho July and August are also around when schools at least here in the US start back up, for example. Science and stats can be interesting. Plenty down to even money behind funding can be factors.

IDK, I've been feeling the pull around these holidays myself. Kinda glad, if anything to have reasons to buck trends, with the other silly human instinct to want to "be different, non-mainsteam" or whatever... Lol I recall feeling relatableness to the "hipster", but as more of a "gangster", na had to go my own way, do my own "ganagta shit"

 

[monetpompo]

New Year's is often talked about like a fresh start, but for a lot of people it's the opposite...it's seen as the finish line.
Research has shown that the number of successful suicides are higher around New Year's Day compared to other holidays.
It isn't just about the day itself, but how much this pattern increases every year. More and more people are talking about feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or left behind when the calendar flips. Expectations rise, support doesn't always follow, and silence fills the gaps leading to suicide.

In terms of numbers, studies show that about 0.39% of annual suicides occur on New Year's Day, compared with 0.23–0.27% on other major holidays like Christmas or Halloween. In some datasets, the risk of suicide on New Year's Day is approximately 33% higher than on a regular day. These patterns are observed across multiple countries and over decades, suggesting that this is persistent and widespread .
The turning of the calendar can amplify feelings of failure, loneliness, and despair. The pressure to "start fresh" or measure up to societal expectations can feel unbearable.

this post is awesome and totally explains my craving to commit suicide so vehemently right now, more than the other months. when summer finally "stopped" (summer in texas is humid, hot, draining, and very long) and november became colder and darker, i thought to myself, "i thought summer would last forever. why did the seasons change again?". now with christmas music playjng 24/7 and decorations everywhere i feel more inclined to die before i lose this chance to wipe my slate clean while everyone is still holly and jolly. because if other people are excited about what the new year is bringing then me being anxious means i'm fucked up and weird.

it's nice that other people can feel like this way too. i feel a lot of regret knowing that i just as anxious and scared of the new year coming that i did last year. i kind of expected to kill myself in the middle of january because i hated being alive and alone so much. it's scary to think that i have nothing to look forward to because my life has only gotten worse and smaller.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I can well understand it. I've long disliked New Years Eve/ Day. I think it prompts you to both- look back on the year and to look forward. It's depressing when both look shit!

But yeah- I suppose some particular days do really make us think about the time sprawled out ahead of us and, what we ought to try and achieve in it. It's no wonder really that it can be a trigger for people to say- 'hell no!'

 

[kuroshimi]

Interesting statistics.

I guess it's related to fact that winter holidays is a friends or family holiday. Many people feel lonely during this period.

 

[unluckysadness]

I hate New year's eve. Alone at this time since 20 years I guess and it's okay because I hate parties. It gives me stress when they talk about it in medias and fireworks are just non-sense. Celebrate what ? Another shitty year ?? And it reminds me how the past year was miserable and I know next year will be miserable and painful too. Some people claim that "life is short" but when you suffer all the time, it's fucking long !...

 

[catsalvation]

Yeah this tortorous Christmas is finally over, but now here's New Years Eve to kick me again. I never liked NYE, because of the pressure to evaluate the year, set goals to next one etc. Also the superstitions: do/eat this, but not that... I have OCD in the first place, so it's not very pleasant.
But as @girl from mars mentioned the good weather is also triggering, seeing the lively, happy people while I'm feeling left out, miserable, hopeless...
And I have to hide my old SH scars in many cases. Or people will judge me and ostracize me.

 

[OnMyLast Legs]

2026 will mark 15 years since I kissed someone at midnight

 

[madwoman]

I've had pretty bad years, but I have never been as suicidal as I have been this year so I'm dreading the start of the new year. Because of being in the in between, all my thoughts surround my ctb plan so it's hard when everything is making future plans and goals to make their life better… & to go through another year does not sound good. It's definitely going to be pretty bleak for me when Jan hits. Kind of wish I didn't put things on pause bc I'm not quite ready yet. And I hate how my brain thinks of how I don't want others to deal with my suicide at the start of the year… :/

I did google and learned Spring is a big time for suicides and I get it, I don't think I could endure that time where everyone is excited to come out of hibernation :/

 

[mychois]

2026 will mark 15 years since I kissed someone at midnight

Do you want to talk about who that someone was?

 

[OnMyLast Legs]

Do you want to talk about who that someone was?

Not really. She was cool, an academic in Europe now. Before I lost my mind I attracted some impressive girls in college. But it was all based on my looks, I never had anything to talk about. My first mental breakdown was underway by the time this one made a move on me. We "dated" for a few weeks.

 

[Arb]

That statistic feeling a little too real, I'm getting impulsive ideas of ODing tonight... I know it's not a recommended method

 

[lawlietsph]

i can understand this, i'm extremely suicidal tonight and i don't even understand why.
i think it's mostly because i'm already thinking about working next week, and the never ending suffering
things are getting worse and worse each day

 

[Dejected 55]

For me, the enhanced depression of tonight is about loneliness. Throughout the year I am bothered by being alone and seeing other people who at least seem to have someone in their lives... but you can't always imagine how people are doing in any given moment most of the time.

But... with the New Year's tradition of having a kiss with someone at midnight... there exists a unique time of the year, tonight, wherein you can reasonably imagine a LOT of people around the world having a kiss with someone in that moment... and when you are sitting home alone as always in that same moment... and if you're like me and have never experienced that moment ever in your life... then it applies a unique kind of pressure in that moment. I do not look forward to tonight at all. And if I think I can ignore it by distracting myself... the idiots around who set off fireworks at midnight will shock me into the awareness of the moment.

 

[unluckysadness]

For me, the enhanced depression of tonight is about loneliness. Throughout the year I am bothered by being alone and seeing other people who at least seem to have someone in their lives... but you can't always imagine how people are doing in any given moment most of the time.

But... with the New Year's tradition of having a kiss with someone at midnight... there exists a unique time of the year, tonight, wherein you can reasonably imagine a LOT of people around the world having a kiss with someone in that moment... and when you are sitting home alone as always in that same moment... and if you're like me and have never experienced that moment ever in your life... then it applies a unique kind of pressure in that moment. I do not look forward to tonight at all. And if I think I can ignore it by distracting myself... the idiots around who set off fireworks at midnight will shock me into the awareness of the moment.

You're not alone. I won't say the last time I kissed someone because it's too miserable and nobody will believe me. I hope this new year will be the good one for us (recovery or death).

 

[Ligottian]

In my shithole town, there is no bar/club to go to possibly get a midnight kiss. After I eat my supper meal, I will shortly crawl into bed and hopefully get to sleep soon after taking my meds. It's cold as hell here anyway. Happy New Year.

 

[Deepdense]

It feels like there always too much pressure to change something about yourself then you just feel like an asshole for not being able to follow through.

 

[Dejected 55]

You're not alone. I won't say the last time I kissed someone because it's too miserable and nobody will believe me. I hope this new year will be the good one for us (recovery or death).

Would be hard to top me... I only ever kissed one woman, and that was nearly 30 years ago. Sometimes even I am aghast when I realize how long it has been.

 

[Black Sheep One]

The gunshot to my head should blend nicely with the year end fireworks.

 

[Dejected 55]

I spoke too soon earlier... fireworks have been happening since it got dark. They aren't even waiting for midnight.