I came across this question “Should assisted suicide be allowed for people with a mental illness” on a reddit post a while back. I thought I would bring this question up and hope to start some engagement and discussion with this post.
In my opinion, Yes but with some conditions.
I don’t think it should be allowed for someone who is just recently experiencing a mental illness and have not exhausted all avenues of treatment.
For me, I think it should be allowed for someone like me who have been dealing with a mental illness for over 2 decades and have tried all treatments available.
There are no more medication or medication combinations for the doctors to try. It is pretty much wait for the next new medication to be released, try it and hope it helps. I have been through shock therapy and also had a stay at a mental health center called Homewood Health Center for 2 months and it didn’t help.
I have learned Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and use mindfulness and meditation to help cope with the depression and anxiety. I have seen counsellors and psychotherapists as well as regular visits with my psychiatrist.
My depression is severe and chronic. Everyday I feel the pain of the depression and the thoughts that come with it and unless I take heavy sedatives, which were prescribed for when I just can’t deal with it anymore, I get no relief. It’s an everyday battle.
No one wants to die a painful death and I feel certain that I will die by my own hand.
I think that it should be something that you would talk to your doctor about while of sound mind, maybe wait a year and revisit to make sure that even being of sound mind assisted suicide is still something you want to follow through with, and then start making the plans to go ahead with it.
What do you fellow steemians think? Should assisted suicide be allowed for people with a mental illness? Why or why not? Do you think there should be conditions applied if you agree that it should be allowed?