Weathering the ‘spring peak’
LEE KYOUNG-HEEThe author is the head of the JoongAng Ilbo Innovation Lab.
In the popular drama “The Glory” (2022-), young Dong-eun saves the life of an old lady who walked into the river. Dong-eun was just about to give up her life as she suffered from school violence. But she could not neglect someone else giving up her life. The old lady tells Dong-eun, “The water is too cold. I am cold. Let’s go into the water in spring.”
In fact, spring is the season with the highest suicide rate. According to Statistics Korea, most number of suicides occurred in spring in the past five years. The pattern is not unique to Korea. According to a publication analyzing 260 years of data from Finland and Sweden from the 1750s to 2010, their suicide rate increased in spring, including May.
Multinational researchers also analyzed data from 1986 to 2016 in 12 countries, including Korea, and found that the suicide rate peaked in spring and declined in winter. Countries with distinct temperature changes, like Korea, also showed relatively large seasonal fluctuations.
This surge in the suicide rate in spring is called the “spring peak.” Serotonin levels, which regulate emotions, are sensitive to temperature and sunlight. Therefore, seasonal changes affect suicidal impulses. As spring is the season signaling a new beginning, it leads to more social stress, contributing to the “spring peak.” Young adults in Korea can’t even enjoy spring blossoms, as the midterm exam begins around this time of the year.
The suicide rate for children and adolescents in 2021 was 2.7 per 100,000 people, the highest since 1.2 in 2000. The jump in the suicide rate between the ages of 12 and 14 from 1.1 in 2000 to 5 in 2021 should not be treated lightly. Recently, a shocking incident occurred in which a teenage girl broadcast the process of her suicide live on social media. Bad news continues day by day, including a recent death of an idol star.
In “The Glory,” the old lady saved by Dong-eun comes to her senses and worries about her, “Are you okay with bare feet? Why are you wearing a knit sweater? It will be heavy when it gets wet.”
The water will be just as cold in spring. If society asks vulnerable people like Dong-eun or the old lady if they are doing fine, we may be able to get over the spring crisis a little easier.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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