Temporal Fluctuations in Suicide Calls to a Crisis Intervention Service

Abstract

Suicide‐related calls received by a crisis intervention center were analyzed for temporal variations. The overall number of calls, calls concerning personal suicidal ideation, and calls concerning third‐person suicide potential varied by both month and day of the week. Ideation calls and calls involving a suicide attempt varied by day of the month. Month and day of the week variation in third‐person calls paralleled variations in completed suicides. Fluctuations were large enough to be useful in scheduling crisis center staff. The possibility that third‐person calls represent a greater suicide threat than first‐person calls is discussed.