NeoKnight, you seem to think that the trouble of climate is merely psychodrama. It isn't, it's chemical. As others have said so plainly, the lack of sun alters your mood almost inevitably. You'll always find more suicide rates in northern cloudy countries than shiny countries, despite the adaptation of locals. And ooopsidoo, the data agrees with me. How about that.
How about some elaboration here. From what I've read, said data varies as much as people's subjectivity on the matter. Is there specific set of data you're referring to (as outlined by a particular study or analysis)? If so, please share.
So you think all the studies that show SAD more prevalent in nordic countries due to lack of vitamin D (except for those who are extremely well adapted and /or eat lots of fish) should be scraped because they are "subjective"?
I never said that the studies were subjective, nor do I believe this. My only reference to subjectivity was in a simile:
From what I've read, said data varies as much as people's subjectivity on the matter.
What I actually said was that the data from these studies seems to vary. That is, the different results I've seen appear inconsistent. This prompted me to ask you for a definitive analysis from a reliable source that could perhaps put one side of the issue on firm ground. The wikipedia article, though interesting, did not accomplish this. I believe other community members have sufficiently elaborated on this point.
May I ask you why I should even take your skepticism here more seriously than just a biased position on your part?
Because it's not skepticism, it's a refusal to give the issue the benefit of the doubt. I've found this to be a good policy for internet discussions. And remember, the original issue in question was the link between climates and suicide rates. The information you provided merely addressed the connection between climates and depression (mostly in the form of SAD). Now, I acknowledge that climate has a strong influence on human behavior and mood. What I don't acknowledge, and what lies at the heart of the controversy, is the hypothesis that climate is a significant contributing factor in suicides.
Suicide rates are much more closely correlated with how you live than where you live (in the geographic sense, that is). Looking at suicide rates across countries for geographic correlations is only a statistically meaningful exercise when suicide rates are comparable across nations (given the wide variance in reporting, a significant difficulty) and the data is controlled for social conditions among its various demographic groups (a near-impossibility, given the variance in suicide within countries). It's a pointless argument - there are countless things that are more accurate predictors than Seasonal Affective Disorder or potential vitamin-D deficiency (considering the direct link to suicidal ideation is pretty tenuous; while there is an undeniable link to depression, the magnitude of that link is up for debate).
MP-Ryan actually summed up my viewpoint very nicely, and with far more rhetorical grace than I was capable of displaying.
Yes, climates have a profound effect on human mood.
No, climates do not have a profound effect on suicide rates (though I'd still be open to reading any analysis which makes a conclusion to the contrary)
Enough said.
