Why Winter Means Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Winter is a time when all the leaves have fallen off the trees, the grass dies off and is replaced by a more brown tone and the temperatures chill our bones. That isn't the case throughout the world, but in certain parts of the world, the coming of winter means our entire scenery changes. With that scenery change come mood changes. Some people get more excited about the winter months than they do the summer months. It is a time of fun and celebration and family gatherings like no other time of the year. It can also be a very depressing time of the year for some.

There are several reasons that the winter months would bring on depression in some people. In fact, winter is a time of year that is higher in suicide rate than the other seasons. Spring months are full of hope as flowers and trees begin to bloom. Summer is a time of the year to have fun and do things outdoors which make you feel much more alive. Fall has a lot of beauty in the turning of leaves and it keeps you busy. It isn't yet very cold either. Winter months are different though. The winter months means that everything is dead. That in and of itself is very depressing. The flowers are no longer in bloom and it is generally a time of year that people on colder climates cuddle up indoors. That is nice, for a little while, but it gets old fast.

It isn't just the fact that winter is not always the most beautiful time of the year. It is depressing because that is when all the major holidays occur. That is a time to celebrate for most people, but people going through a rough patch with a loved one often finds themselves in a depressed state of mind because of all the celebrations. People end up feeling lost and lonely during this time of year and that depression can often lead to suicidal thoughts and then to attempts. The mixture of everything looking rather dead and seeing so many other people happy is enough to drive an already depressed person to the brink.

It is important that we consider the fact that not everyone is happy-go-lucky during the holiday season. Many people are fraught with sadness and depression. If you know someone who may be going through a particularly hard time in their lives over the winter months, it is important that you keep a close eye on them. Some of those people would include those who got divorced or broke up from a long term relationship, those who have lost a loved one to death, those who have a tendency to be depressed in most situations and those who have just lost a job.

You can help someone get through these times by listening to them, being there for them and offering suggestions on where that person can get help. The worst thing you can do is push "fun" activities down their throats. A depressed person is rarely "brought around" by going to a fun party. This, in fact, could trigger worse feelings of depression. It is important to pay attention to what the person really needs. It is likely they need a friend. Even though they want to be left alone in most instances, it isn't likely that will ever help pull them out of a depression. The other issue to look at is the negativity that the person can end up wallowing in. The more negative a person is and those who spend time with him/her, the more chance that person has of becoming totally immersed in the depression and spiral towards suicidal tendencies. Stay as positive as possible at all times. It isn't just for you, it affects everyone around you as well.

Winter months hold a lot of wonderful things that we look forward to. It also holds a lot of reasons for people to become depressed. It can even be attributed, in part, to the fact that winter days are much shorter than summer days. It gets dark out much earlier and that in and of itself is very depressing. The important thing is that you help those you love who are going through a particularly bad time in their lives, get through the winter months so they feel fresh and renewed when spring comes.