Back to school blues: Seasonality of youth suicide and the academic calendar

Benjamin Hansen and Matthew Lang

Economics of Education Review, 2011, vol. 30, issue 5, 850-861

Abstract: Previous research has found evidence of academic benefits to longer school years. This paper investigates one of the many potential costs of increased school year length, documenting a dramatic decrease in youth suicide in months when school is not in session. A detailed analysis does not find that other potential explanations such as economic conditions, weather or seasonal affective disorder patterns can explain the decrease. This evidence suggests that youth may face increased stress and decreased mental health when school is in session.

Keywords: Suicide; Youth; suicide; Mental; health; School; calendar; School; year; length (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:30:y:2011:i:5:p:850-861

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