Every January 1st, we cheer for a “new beginning” — but for many of us, this day brings overwhelming loneliness or worse. Studies show that suicide rates increase on New Year’s Day, dispelling the myth that it’s a day of celebration for everyone. The New Year can feel like a harsh backdrop, illuminating feelings of failure, hopelessness, or, in the case of bipolar disorder, treatment failure. The risk of suicide can increase around this time, as the weight of expectations and the pressure to “turn the page” becomes overwhelming.
Here’s the hidden truth: New Years is just another day. It does not determine your worth, your progress, or your future. If you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone and there is hope — even if it seems impossible to see. Let’s explore why the New Year can be so difficult, how to find light in the darkest times, and what steps you can take to heal in January and beyond.
Why New Year’s is so hard: Understanding the emotional toll
The New Year can be seen as a wonderful and positive time, but it is not so for everyone. If you look back on the last year and see what you consider failure and pain, you may conclude that the new year will bring more of the same, which can be scary. Been there, thought that. I looked into the new year and saw a mirror of the last hated year. There is no celebration there. And let’s be real – sometimes the new year brings more of the same, whether you like it or not. Of course, this can breed suicidal feelings in some and worsen suicidal feelings for those who are already suicidal.
How Bipolar Disorder Magnifies New Year’s Struggles
And that’s part of why the New Year can feel difficult if you have bipolar disorder — you know you’ll still have bipolar disorder in the new year. The overarching New Year’s narrative is this concept of “turning the page.” The problem with bipolar disorder is that it’s the same damn page. I’m not saying your next year can’t be better than the last, but when you have bipolar disorder, it’s not as simple as making a New Year’s resolution to eat more broccoli and make things better.
Not to mention the fact that there is cultural pressure to make the new year something fresh and new. But bipolar disorder doesn’t allow that. All the pressure does is make people feel worse about the fact that January 1st isn’t the start of anything, but rather the continuation of a disease that’s trying to kill you. Talk about a depressing realization. And depressive realizations can, quite understandably, lead to an increased risk of suicide on New Year’s Day for those with bipolar disorder.
The pressure to start over: How New Year’s resolutions can damage mental health
This pressure to start over can take a toll on anyone’s mental health during the holidays. You may be upset because you are struggling with a divorce. The new year may bring even more races. You may be stressed about problems at work. The new year may bring more difficulties. The new year means nothing to so many people because the “new year” is just another page in a book, and if the book you’re reading is painful and awful, that “new page” just brings more of the same, no matter what the New Year’s resolution may be.
The idea that you can suddenly change your life using willpower is a myth. Making a New Year’s resolution can hurt your mental health over the holidays rather than help it when you fail to change your life overnight, even when that failure is predictable.
New Year’s suicide risk: What the latest studies reveal
Recently, two studies were released that confirmed that suicides decrease during Christmas and other national holidays in most countries, but suicides increase during the New Year in all countries. This is counterintuitive to many people, but I believe it has to do with two things: not wanting to ruin the holidays for others, and the New Year’s pressure that represents change.
The study “Association of holidays and day of the week with suicide risk: a multi-country, two-stage, time-series study» found that:
- Mondays had the highest suicide risk among weekdays in all countries
- Weekends typically had the lowest risk of suicide
- Suicide risk was generally lower on holidays but increased a day or two after the holiday
- There were strong increases in the risk of suicide on New Year’s Day
A second recent study replicated some of these findings. “Time Patterns of Veteran Suicide: Variation by Season, Day of the Week, and Holidays» found that:
- Veteran suicides increase in the summer months and on Mondays
- Veterans’ suicide risk was generally lower on holidays other than New Year’s
- Veteran suicides rise on New Year’s Day, especially among veterans aged 25-34
- The holiday effects were more present in men
So, if you’re feeling an increase in depression or an increase in suicidal feelings right now, you’re not alone. Many of us have been there.
Because January 1st is just another day — That’s okay
New Years is just another day — it doesn’t have to define your future. Healing begins when you reach out. Every day is an opportunity to start over.
Despite the cultural pressure and the pressure we may put on ourselves to change or “fix” things on New Years, January 1st is really just another day, and that’s okay. No one needs an artificial starting line to tell us when or what to change, and we especially don’t need the pressure that comes with it. If you want to make changes in your life, do it any day you choose, but understand that there is no magic day that will change the suffering you may be experiencing. This suffering may exist on December 31st, January 1st and beyond, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
How to find hope and start healing this January
If you want to reduce your mental suffering this January, suicide is not the answer. Here are some simple suicide prevention tips for January that you can follow to try to start the healing process:
- Approach the New Year. Don’t spend the New Year alone. spend it with people who care about you or spend it contacting a professional or helpline if needed. It’s no shame to say that New Year’s Day is a difficult day for you.
- Seek professional help. If you’re feeling down about the New Year due to ongoing mental distress, seek professional help. This could be your family doctor, a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist. The point is, if your pain is constant, you need help to turn things around. (You may also need to change professionals if the ones you have are not helping you.)
- Stop drinking and using drugs. Drugs will not help your mental health. Alcohol, for example, is a depressant and therefore can make depression worse. While substances may feel like helpful coping techniques, they cause short-term relief and long-term suffering. Remember, you may need medical help to stop using substances, and that’s okay.
- Work on self-improvement slowly. Whatever your pain, there are resources out there to help. I suggest browsing through books to see what makes sense for your situation. I highly recommend workbooks as they can guide you through a healing process if you cannot afford to do this with a professional.
- Focus on documented aid. Don’t fall into the trap of using crystals, unproven supplements, etc., to try to improve your pain. Focus on guidance from mental health professionals or scientifically backed tools. (For example, most mental health apps have no scientific backing. If you want to use one, choose one that does. Likewise, choose books written by recognized experts.)
In short, you can focus on healing this January if you choose, but don’t feel pressured to create sudden change. Change happens gradually when your problems are very painful. And don’t be statistics about New Years and suicide – reach out.
How to support someone struggling with suicidal thoughts this New Year
Another important part of this is helping those around you who may be suicidal on New Years. It costs nothing to check in with your loved ones, and if they’re not the type to contact, your check-in can really save a life. I have written two pieces to help someone struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can find them here and here. No matter what, though, it’s your personal relationship that can make all the difference.
Hope beyond the calendar: Every day is a chance to start over and fight suicide
As I keep saying, January 1st is just another day. This means that if you’re hurting right now, there’s no reason you can’t start fighting him now. Don’t wait until an arbitrary day to try to relieve yourself. Every day is an opportunity to begin the healing process and reduce your pain.
Remember, if this time of year makes you feel worse, you’re not alone. But don’t let an arbitrary date on the calendar defeat you. Spread. Get help. Start treatment. You have this — every day.
(Thanks for Chris Aiken, MDfor furthering this research.)
