How to deal with mental health struggles during the holidays [Video]

For many people, celebrating New Year’s Day can include reflecting on a life well lived or a chance to start anew. But for some, the holiday may have dark undertones, according to a recent large study.

More than 700,000 deaths by suicide were reported globally in 2019, accounting for roughly 1.3 per cent of deaths that year, according to the World Health Organization. The study authors, consequently, wanted to better understand how the risk for suicide may vary depending on the day of the week or holidays. Multiple studies have assessed these relationships in the past, but findings were mixed or limited in geographical scope, the authors said — so they analyzed more than 1.7 million suicides in 740 locations in 26 countries that occurred from 1971 to 2019.