Men are more likely to commit suicide because of drought than women

The longer the time of drought, the greater the risk of ending his life in rural men.

Ivan Hanigan, a researcher from the Australian National University, and his colleagues analyzed statistics on drought and suicide numbers in Australia's state of New South Wales between 1970 and 2007, Livescience. said.

Bathing in rivers and lakes is one of the ways to combat heat
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The results showed that the number of rural men in the age of 30-49 suicide increased by 15% during periods of prolonged drought. The proportion of men in the age group from 10 to 29 who killed their lives also increased, though not as high as men in the age group of 30-49.

In contrast, the risk of suicide in rural women decreases during long droughts.

The research team did not find an association between suicide risk and drought time in men and women living in urban areas.

One can make numerous arguments to explain the relationship between drought and suicide. For example, drought causes agricultural output to fall, pushing farmers into more difficult situations so many people want to escape their deadlocked lives.

Psychologists have long known the impact of weather on people's moods. For example, seasonal emotional disorders often attack people in early winter. In addition, some studies show that people are more likely to become hot and fastidious when the weather is hot.

Disorders in sleep, dehydration in the body and inadequate weather conditions (such as no fans or air conditioners in hot weather) also adversely affect people's mood and can lead to violent behavior.

Hanigan and colleagues did not understand the relationship between drought and the risk of suicide. They hope they will find that relationship in the next study.