[KyWoman]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

There are roughly 50,000 suicides every year, and while it is a very hard for the people left behind, I do personally feel it is closely relates to doctor assisted death.

If we can't talk about it, things won't change - people who need help won't get it.

I saw that same post when it came through and my first thought was also that it might have been suicide, but I didn't know the person, so I had nothing to contribute.

We have an obsession in this country that self "inflicted" death is wrong, and death in general should be fought off as long as possible, no matter what. This is slowly being eroded by the movement of many people searching for death with dignity. Doctors are learning that what used to be taught, that death is the enemy and should never be accepted, are now learning the lying to the patient (yes, they lie to patients that are dying) and telling them there is hope when there is none, is NOT right. Patients have a right to KNOW that they are dying, and to receive help they may need to deal with it.

There are certainly transitive conditions that can lead a person to consider dying, such as situational depression. And those can be helped.

In general considering death is considered a mental illness.

That is really sad, since we are all going to experience death at some point (most of us here are over half way there). Not being able to discuss death in a mature conversation with friends, family, doctors or counselors leaves many (most) people with only themselves to evaluate their options alone - afraid to say anything because of the potential of involuntary commitment. I personally believe this leads to many unnecessary suicides - people feel there is no one they can trust to talk to.

The VA healthcare system takes counseling very seriously and makes it readily available to everyone without questions or judgement. I have not had to use the services myself but it gives me peace of mind to know they are there if or when I might need them.

I certainly understand that comments about suicide can seem to be insensitive or callous to some, especially those that have recently lost someone to suicide. But we really need to get over the stigma that has been traditionally associated it and learn to openly discuss the topic.

Much like the stigma around mental health is just now becoming recognized as an illness and not a moral stigma, we need to be open and encourage people considering end of life to discuss it with whomever they feel comfortable. This is NOT a moral issue, it does not make one a bad person to think about it. It is something every one of us is going to face eventually. Some will have more time to make plans than others.

50,000 suicides per year.

And as someone above said, there are, to me, reasonable situations where I would prefer doctor assisted death over the alternative of long term pain/agony or TBI or any number of life altering conditions that I would find unacceptable at this point in MY life. And I want to be able to opening discuss this with my PCP (which I do and have) and wish that everyone had that option.

If there is anyone reading this that would like to discuss suicide and don't feel it is something they can discuss with family, friends or doctors, please contact me - a complete stranger, might be easier to talk with.

Thank you so much for this post. I lost a dear family member to suicide 6 years ago, and I am so grateful for friends who speak of him and comfort me and my Husband. But, there is a huge stigma concerning suicide and it can be very hurtful to the loved ones left to mourn.