Voluntary assisted-euthanasia for severe depression and social isolation

[PinkFloydFan67]

I'll give a brief description of my life:
Severe (suicidal) depression for decades , very isolated life , don't see my 'friends' anymore. Unable to work or socialise.
On medication which after 8 years probably isn't working anymore.
Struggle to get out of bed. Sometimes don't get up until it's dark outside - which is an absolutely horrible feeling, especially in winter. Increasingly not even leaving the house.
We have terrible mental health trends in Britain and also terrible social isolation problems. I am begining to feel that modern life is so vile and that some people get dealt a hand that is so terrible that they should be entitled to voluntary assisted-euthanasia , as they are in a few other countries like Belgium. I believe that this would make it easier to live knowing that we wouldn't have to chose a violent exit method that may fail and may lead to terrible disabilities. We have hundreds dying on railway lines every year and that also impacts many people in a profoundly terrible way.
I know the powers-that-be don't want too many 'slaves' exiting but I know many in society hate or resent the poor, the helpless and weak anyway. Why don't they just let us exit this hellscape?
I'm aware that this is a radical proposition but I truly think life can be a fate worse than death. If what I'm going through is anything like common then I just think this is evil to make people suffer like this.
Thanks for listening.

I have moments too, where I think it would be best to just stop. I'm so tired of it all.

I believe this is what's currently happening in Canada, suicidal people are choosing to be euthanised.

I don't agree with legal euthanasia under any circumstances as I believe its the thin edge of the wedge and it's easy to get out of control. It could easily be used by an unscrupulous government to save money and would effectively get rid off anyone who relies on the state.

I agree with you and am sorry things are so difficult for you. I would find it comforting to know that option was there.

For what it’s worth I agree with you to a large extent. Who am I to tell a person that their suffering is bearable? I think it’s better to have a pathway that gives opportunities for counselling and other help and give people a choice. I think my views are quite in line with Dutch policy. Some people go to terrible lengths to end their own lives and it is awful for them and those around them.

That said I do hope life gets better for you, possibly a Gp visit to review medication? Some fresh air, some exercise will perhaps help you feel better.

Don't be silly, 20 million people are on benefits or state pension, they're not going to euthanise 20 million people. Other countries have it, is it 'out of control' in any of them?

It's your choice to not want to ever die by euthanasia of course, by why should you get to decide that other people shouldn't have that choice? If you didn't agree with abortion would you think every woman should be denied that too? Aren't you worried that the state will try to get people on benefits to have abortions? Oh no, because they don't.

I'm sorry you feel so shit OP, if you feel your medication isn't working any more can you see your doctor and get it changed perhaps? It's a lot of effort but worth a try maybe? I think every body should have the right to die safely if that's their choice, we have no choice about being born so we should have the right to chose to die IMO.

Don't be silly, 20 million people are on benefits or state pension, they're not going to euthanise 20 million people.

I'm not the silly one. Old people in hospital, disabled people, people with chronic Illnesses, people in care, homeless people, people with poor mental health could all find themselves being offered euthanasia or have no choice in order to save money.

Other countries have it, is it 'out of control' in any of them?

Try reading people's posts before calling them silly. I gave an example of Canada where homeless people and people with mental health problems as well as the elderly are being offered euthanasia.

It's your choice to not want to ever die by euthanasia of course, by why should you get to decide that other people shouldn't have that choice? If you didn't agree with abortion would you think every woman should be denied that too?

I have the foresight and nouse to see how euthanasia could gradually get out of control. Those who can't see beyond their own little lives couldn't possibly imagine anything beyond the tip of their nose. I'm not the only person who counts in society and I care what happens to others. I don't want people pressured into killing themselves.

I agree too and if this was an option here I'd be gone tomorrow. The only reason I'm still here is because I don't want to cause trauma to anyone else - train drivers, paramedics, police, it is awful for them to deal with the aftermath.

I absolutely agree with your post OP. Why are we brought into this world to suffer so badly with mental health? 🥺

Statistics in the countries that have legalised euthanasia don’t tend to agree with you. I believe it’s really unfair to force people to live or suffer through a potentially messy suicide attempt. If it’s not a choice you’d make fair enough but I don’t think it ok to impose your view on everyone else.

If sounds like something out of a horror film. I think depression for no reason is horrific but euthanasia is not the answer.

Me too and I’m scared of ending up incapacitated rather than dead if not successful.

I absolutely agree with everyone's right to choice over every aspect of their lives but I disagree with this statement that modern life is so vile and that some people get dealt a hand that is so terrible

That's your illness/disability/delusion speaking, as is I know the powers-that-be don't want too many 'slaves' exiting but I know many in society hate or resent the poor, the helpless and weak anyway.

Life is just life, it can't be universally described as vile or wonderful or anything other than life. Ditto life 'dealing hands' to people. Doesn't exist.

Medication is one route. Therapy is another. Religion works for some people. Escapism for others, cult living as an opposite ideal.

Opting out is always there but maybe check out all the possibilities first?

And I don't agree that someone who feels bad now, should end their life when they may feel better in a few months. Suicidal feelings are often transitory.

I can't believe you want to kill people who could feasibly feel fine with the proper treatment. It would certainly save the NHS money.

I just think life today is nothing. Society's so broken , so atomised, so exclusionary, so winner-takes-all. Yes, I'm middle aged and have lived enough to have been completely burned out by everything but I think this era is a particularly grotesque one.
Death is nowhere near the worst thing that can happen to you.

It isn’t a question of wanting to kill prople, it is more of allowing people who want to die to do so in a more dignified and less lonely way.

It's a law where a Dr kills someone. I would argue that someone in the throws of suicidal ideation or with a severe mental illness, does not have the capacity to fully consent. I also know people who were suicidal but are fine now, yet you want to introduce a law where they'd conceivably be dead now.

Yes this too. I want a 100% effective method which causes no trouble for anyone else. Peacefully passing away in a dignitas type clinic would be ideal, but I'm agoraphobic so if they could do a home visit that'd be perfect!

Depression can be every bit as debilitating as physical illness. I think there was a young woman in the Netherlands who made the papers after she chose euthanasia. It had been something she’d pushed for, for a long time. There had been treatments and drugs and suicide attempts. It is incredibly sad that a person, especially one who is young and physically healthy is going through such unbearable suffering that they’d choose to die.

However is it reasonable as a society to expect people to carry on with unbearable suffering? It is subjective. For me it’s a decision for an individual supported by doctors.

I agree but you get caught up in the vicious cycle of capacity and so it's almost impossible to have a sensible discussion about it.

I disagree with this. I don't hate the world or society, there is so much beauty in the world and humans are mostly wonderful creatures. I just don't want to live in it, it's not that I want to die because everything is awful, I want to just not exist.

It’s a pretty protracted process in the Netherlands. There’s not a push towards Euthanasia for people suffering from depression it’s be very much the last resort and a push to have tried every possible treatment first. I’d agree that many people have transitory suicidal feelings. That’s not the same as someone who has suffered decades of debilitating depression though is it?

Those suffering debilitating depression may need proper treatment which is currently unavailable on the NHS and hasn't been for years. They also need decent one to one support because it's very difficult to motivate yourself in the throws of depression.

In Canada, euthanasia is being offered for people with mental health issues and the homeless amongst others. I would be in favour of better mental health care and support in the community for people who are struggling, not ending their lives.

We are living through a time when it's become apparent we were sold a lie. It doesn't mean it won't get better in future.

I’m absolutely in favour of better mental health care and support in the community for those who are struggling as well as the right to choose euthanasia. I don’t think they are exclusionary.