How to prevent suicides? It's a complex question with no straightforward answer, but one thing is clear: suicides seriously impact the healthcare landscape.

According to the World Health Organization, someone chooses the path of suicide every 45 seconds, and over 700,000 people worldwide take this dreadful step each year, as reported by BBC News Ukrainian .

Preventing these tragic incidents is a challenging issue, but recent research suggests that new methods, differing from traditional approaches, can be effective. For instance, investing in psychological support to reduce feelings of loneliness.

In 2018, the journal "Science" published an article detailing how Denmark successfully lowered suicide rates by restricting access to the most dangerous suicide methods and establishing specialized clinics for individuals with suicidal thoughts.

Now, a new aspect emerges that, at first glance, may not seem related to this problem. Over the past few years, various studies have identified a link between air pollution and the risk of suicide. What do these studies point to?

In 2021, scientists from Yale University established a significant connection between environmental factors and suicidal behavior, specifically with particulate matter, a major air pollutant. These particles are released into the air during fuel combustion (ash, soot), forest fires, and emissions from construction activities.

These particles also include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide gasses, formed during the burning of coal in power plants and industrial processes and present in the exhaust emissions of some vehicles.

This aligns with 2019 research conducted by Isabel Breitweiser from University College London. Analysis of various data confirmed that at high levels of particulate matter in the air, the risk of suicide significantly increases over a prolonged three-day period. The research also supported the hypothesis that prolonged exposure to polluted air could contribute to the development of depression.

While the biological mechanism of this phenomenon is not entirely understood, researchers believe that polluted air, when inhaled into the lungs, may impede the flow of oxygen into the blood and, consequently, the brain. Other studies unrelated to suicide suggest that this could lead to cognitive impairments.

Researchers also speculate that poor air quality may contribute to brain inflammation, reduced serotonin levels, and disruptions in adaptive stress responses, increasing the likelihood of depressive behavior and impulsivity.

Therefore, there is a possibility that polluted air may impact the development of cognitive disorders, including brain fog, which could contribute to suicidal thoughts.

It's important to note that researchers from Yale University and University College London explored associations and statistical data, not fully establishing the mechanisms and factors that may lead to the negative impact of polluted air on the brain.

As with any correlational analysis, other factors may exist. For example, some studies have also found a correlation between suicides and high air temperatures, noting that hot days are associated with an increased suicide risk. A 7°C increase in temperature leads to a 9% rise in suicides, according to Michelle Bell, a co-author of the Yale University study.

"A substantial increase in air temperature is associated with a high risk," she notes. Researchers also believe that on hot days, people may inhale more polluted air as they open windows.

Scientists are also interested in whether the adverse state of the environment equally affects the mental well-being of men and women, given that men are known to be more prone to suicide. For example, last year in the United States, around 80% of suicides were committed by men.