When the Sun Comes Out and the Shadows Deepen: Why Suicide Risk Rises in Early Summer

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to speak hard truths, to bring light into the corners we’re afraid to name. One of those truths? Suicide doesn’t peak in the dead of winter. For adults in the U.S., the highest suicide rates happen in late spring and early summer.

It’s unexpected. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s something we can’t afford to keep quiet about.

When Energy Returns But Pain Remains

Spring is often celebrated as a time of growth and renewal. But for many people struggling with depression or trauma, energy returns before hope does.

In the darker months, depression may bring on a kind of frozen stillness—what we describe in polyvagal theory as a dorsal vagal state: shutdown, withdrawal, low energy. As daylight increases and the world speeds up, the body may shift into a more activated, anxious state—what we call sympathetic activation or “watchdog mode.” There’s movement now, but no felt sense of safety or connection. That’s where the danger lies.

Suddenly, someone who was too shut down to act on suicidal thoughts may now have the energy and agitation to follow through.

Shame Keeps Us Silent

Let’s be honest: shame is still one of the biggest barriers to talking about suicidal thoughts.

So many people believe that struggling with suicidal ideation means they are weak, broken, or a burden. That belief often gets reinforced—sometimes unintentionally—by the very people and institutions they turn to for support.

In some faith communities, the topic of suicide carries deep stigma. It's seen as sinful, selfish, or shameful. That messaging can push people even further into silence. I’ve sat with people who feared not only judgment from loved ones, but eternal punishment. That kind of fear isolates, and isolation is fuel for despair.

But here’s what we also know: faith and spirituality can be powerful sources of healing.

When people feel connected to something bigger than themselves—whether that’s God, nature, community, or their ancestors—it creates a lifeline. Not because it erases pain, but because it reminds us we’re not alone in it.

Spiritual connection, when it’s rooted in compassion and belonging—not shame—can be a buffer against suicide risk. So if you’re a faith leader, a spiritual friend, or a person of conscience, this is a moment to choose love over doctrine, connection over condemnation.

The Body Keeps the Season

Spring isn’t just bright skies and fresh air. It’s also pollen, pressure, and a body trying to keep up.

Research now shows that inflammation and seasonal allergies can make depression worse. From a polyvagal perspective, inflammation keeps the nervous system on high alert. Add in poor sleep from rising temperatures, or stress from rapid life changes, and you’ve got a recipe for overwhelm.

We also now know that climate-related stress, such as extreme temperature swings and longer daylight hours, can dysregulate mood. This is especially true for people already dealing with trauma, bipolar disorder, or chronic anxiety.

It’s not just “in your head.” Your body knows the season has changed, and for some, that shift is a real threat to mental health.

A System in Crisis

And just as we’re learning more about how to support mental health, we’re watching a vital resource teeter on the edge: the national 988 crisis line.

Launched to offer 24/7 support for people in emotional distress, 988 has become a literal lifeline. But with federal funding in jeopardy, some states are now facing staffing cuts or closures.

We cannot afford to lose this. Not now. Not when we know that May through July are high-risk months. Not when we know that people often reach out only once—if at all. Please call your US Representative and ask them to reject DOGE's proposed budget cuts to suicide interventions and instead continue supporting 988.

What You Can Do: 5 Simple Steps

You don’t have to be a therapist to help someone. You just have to show up. Here are five simple, powerful things you can do if you're worried about a friend or loved one:

1. Notice: Pay attention to changes in behavior—withdrawal, giving away belongings, or uncharacteristic sadness or anger.

2. Ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” It doesn’t plant the idea. It opens a door.

3. Listen without fixing: This is not the time for pep talks. It’s the time to say, “I’m here. I’m not afraid of your pain.”

4. Stay connected: Isolation can kill. Even a short text or walk together can re-activate someone’s sense of safety and worth.

5. Know your resources: If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) officer if available. You can also call 988—while it’s still here—or look up local crisis teams in your area.

   
   

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Talking about feeling hopeless or being a burden

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or favorite activities

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Dramatic mood swings

• Saying goodbye, giving away possessions, or tying up loose ends

If you notice these signs, don’t wait. Reach out.

Final Thoughts

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Let’s be honest about what’s happening—about the shame, the silence, and the real risks that show up just when the weather turns warm.

And let’s also be honest about this: You are not broken. You are not weak. You are not alone.

The most courageous thing any of us can do is reach out, or reach back. To ask the hard questions. To sit with someone in their pain without turning away. To speak the words that shame tells us to bury.

If we’re going to save lives this summer, it will be because we chose connection over comfort, presence over perfection, and love over silence.

*Alexa Griffith, LMHC, LCAC, NCC, RPT is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist. Alexa enjoys providing individual counseling and family counseling. She also provides play therapy for children, as well as teen and adolescent counseling via telehealth or in office. Alexa's practice serves the Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield. Learn more at AlexaGTherapy.com