Reflecting on the diminished seasonal variation in suicides reported by Yip et al (Reference Yip, Chao and Chiu2000), I was mindful of the recent extreme weather conditions — gales, floods, tornadoes — and the absence of ‘Novemberness’ — trees retaining their leaves, moderate temperatures, the absence of frost. Additionally in recent years we have been spared cold winters and lamented the loss of any recognisable British summertime. Therefore, one might wonder whether the disappearance of seasonal variation in suicide mirrors the disappearance of familiar markers of the seasons. In the absence of hard data, perhaps global warming rather than global communication (e-mail, telephone, etc.) underlies the observed trend. In future maybe other changes in traditionally seasonally linked illness patterns may be seen (e.g. in seasonal affective disorder) and this may also account for the current excess of patients with mania on our local admission ward — they seem somehow to have missed the expected springtime peak.
Reduced suicide rates among the divorced and widowed may be linked to societal changes such as the greater acceptability of single status.
We may expect human cycles (illness, behaviour) to change in line with adaptation of society and the eco- and planetary system.
But for now let us hope that there is no direct causal link between psychiatric morbidity and rainfall (Reference Ohl and TapsellOhl & Tapsell, 2000).
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