1. Astrology or science?
Season Of Birth In Inuit Suicide Victims Born In Traditional Or Modern Lifestyle Are Different
Karin Sparring Björkstén, Karolinska Institutet and Peter Bjerregaard, University of Southern Denmark
This is a study about Greenland Inuits
Why is season of birth an issue for suicide and what can we learn from Greenland?
The suicide rate in Greenland increased from very low rates to about 140 suicides/ person-years in the 1980s
Light at birth is proposed to play a role for suicide
Indoor but not natural light has changed over time
Persons born in Traditional Lifestyle during March-June were less likely to commit suicide
Early malnutrition makes children vulnerable
The arctic winter/spring made hunting possible and people got more food
Those born in Modern Lifestyle did not show this variation
Fresh food gave fresh microbiota
This is contrary to the findings of European studies finding a higher suicide risk for spring-born
Seasonal infections arrived with the first summer ship and had other seasonal patterns than in Europe
Suicides per births for those
born in Traditional Lifestyle 1903–1950 who died by suicide 1968–2007
Suicides per births for those born in Modern Lifestyle 1961–1980 who died by suicide 1968–2007
The suicide rate has increased
rapidly in modern Greenland
Rapid social changes and reliable population statistics offer a unique opportunity to make comparisons between persons born into a Traditional Lifestyle and those born into a Modern Lifestyle. A time machine.
Karolinska Institutet, NVS
Karin Sparring Björkstén, M.D. Ph.D.
Psychiatry South Stockholm
Box 5040
SE Johanneshov
SWEDEN
Phone