Seasonal changes bring crushing waves of tree pollen in the spring, but who thought it would also be associated with suicide?

There is research that suggests allergies and tree pollen may be linked to a higher risk of suicide. Pollen allergies can result in brain inflammation, which can alter mood and raise the risk of depression and suicide. Allergies can also cause sleep disturbances and cognitive dysfunction, which can worsen mood problems and suicidal thoughts in some people.

An increasing body of research indicates that allergies and tree pollen may be linked to a higher risk of suicide. Although the processes underlying this connection are not fully understood, they may be related to changes in mood and cognitive function brought on by the inflammatory response to allergens. Healthcare practitioners should be aware of this potential danger in allergy sufferers, especially in individuals who have a history of depression or other psychiatric disorders.

One study found that people with allergic rhinitis, a typical allergic illness, had a considerably higher incidence of suicide ideation and attempts than people without allergies. We need to consider whether or not these individuals had suicidal ideation prior to the allergic illness or if it only became evident once the allergic rhinitis presented on examination. Unfortunately, healthcare personnel do not usually assess for suicide when diagnosing an individual with an allergic reaction, and therein lies the challenge of many studies.

Other studies indicated that individuals with seasonal allergies were more likely to have depression symptoms during peak pollen season than during the off-season. The caution here is evident. “Although further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between rhinitis and depression, these findings reinforce the need to consider depression in patients undergoing evaluation for rhinitis.”

Moreover, research has connected allergies to teen and child suicide where those with allergies are almost twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts than kids without allergies.

Women, in some studies, have now been shown to have a suicide risk during periods of high pollen samples in the air. There is some research evidence to indicate that patients with bipolar disorder and allergies may be at higher risk of suicide or increased suicidal thinking. The risk can be as high as 10% of the groups studied.

Another study indicated that those with depression and allergies were more likely to engage in suicide behavior than people with depression alone, according to research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders (9).

Last but not least, a study that appeared in the Journal of Psychiatric Research revealed that those who had allergies and a history of trauma as a kid were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Allergens and those who suffer from allergies may be more prone to suicidal thoughts and actions. Trauma’s effects on the immune system, as well as allergies’ effects on mental health and quality of life, have both been implicated in the connection between trauma, allergies, and suicidal ideation.

For instance, one study discovered that sleep disturbance partially mediated the connection between allergic rhinitis and suicidal behavior in Korean teenagers and that a history of stressful events raised the probability of both allergic rhinitis and suicidal conduct. Similar discoveries found that people who had experienced childhood trauma were more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, which is associated with allergies and suicidal thoughts.

There is evidence that suggests a history of trauma may raise the chance of acquiring allergies and that those who have allergies may be more likely to have suicidal thoughts and actions. Healthcare providers should be aware of these possible hazards and examine patients with allergies, especially those who have a history of trauma, for mental health issues, including suicidal ideation.

A growing body of research indicates that allergies and tree pollen may be linked to a higher risk of suicide. Although the processes underlying this connection are not fully understood, they may be related to changes in mood and cognitive function brought on by the inflammatory response to allergens. Healthcare practitioners should be aware of this potential danger in allergy sufferers, especially in individuals who have a history of depression or other psychiatric disorders.