Sweden National Football Team: Suicides Decrease During World Cup

When Sweden plays in the World Cup, suicides decrease. According to a study in the book _Soccernomics_, suicides decrease by 19 cases in June and 60 cases throughout the tournament year when Sweden plays in a major tournament.

What happens during the World Cup?

During a World Cup, something happens that has become increasingly rare. For once, large parts of the country follow the same drama at the same time. We watch the same game, we hear the same comments, and we talk about the same miss, the same goal, and the same referee decision.

Why do suicides decrease?

The explanation is likely not that football itself makes people happy. Nor that a game can cure mental illness. The hypothesis is rather about social cohesion. The French sociologist Émile Durkheim wrote in the late 19th century about suicide as something more than an individual tragedy.

How does the World Cup affect suicide rates?

During a World Cup, large parts of the country come together and follow the same drama at the same time. This creates a social cohesion that can affect suicide rates. In ten of the twelve countries studied in _Soccernomics_, suicides decrease during years when the national team plays in a major tournament.