TW: voluntary assisted dying vs suicide

@sadboyhours it is a very controversial subject and I think a lot of people will have different views on the topic.

Watching my father pass to a horrible disease especially in the last 3 months of his life, VAD would have certainly helped. But at what stage does it become a decision and who makes that decision.

In regards to mental illness and VAD I am reading that people have very different opinions and extremely different experiences with the help that they have received. In some circumstances it might be an option, but then who gets to make that decision.

I thank you for bringing up this subject. I think it is something that people don't discuss enough.

I am not sure what my post will bring to people as I am not saying I am for it but then again not against it.

This is a topic I was very passionate about when I was at a very low point.

I think it should be an option for people. I don't think it should be easy to access though. I think that people would need to prove over a long time that there is no improvement and try different medications etc., first. They would need to prove mental suffering and distress via various mental health assessments and history of mental illness.

I would have taken the option at different points of my life, but I have had periods of recovery after these times. So for this reason it would need to be highly controlled with long term suffering displayed. With no periods of recovery over a certain period of time.

However, this would reduce the risk of failed suicide which results in physical handicaps. This is what I fear over anything. I have enough problems as it is. A safe, peaceful way to die should be an option because we deserve control over our life and death. We have the technology for it. Suicide is very scary. The options available with which to accomplish suicide are not great. Help with suicide, making the dying process less traumatic, is a kindness for someone who will do it anyway.

Thank you for sharing your balance viewpoint @I-can . Definitely something to consider.

Something else I wanted to mention is the option for assisted suicide would likely help stop a lot of suicide cases. This is because it is a better option then doing it yourself but the time taken with the process makes the person attempting really think about what they want. It gives time to avoid that impulsive situation, where someone may rashly make the wrong choice.

Most of the times I have considered suicide, waiting a little while would be possible if I had hope of a better suicide option. The one time I did attempt was a rash decision that I regretted in retrospect. I thought I had no option and I had a situation I was trying to get away from. It was an urgent situation that I didn't think I had time to wait. Given more time and assistance, it was able to be helped. If I had reached out for suicide assistance in that moment instead of attempting myself, help could have happened and I would not have ended up in the hospital.

A very interesting and important topic to discuss @sadboyhours .

I am an avid supporter of VAD and would like to see the criteria extended for other conditions. Possibly even pre-signing a document incase you end up with a Dementia and you would like the option of VAD.

I think whether our illnesses are labelled physical or mental, it all relates to the body and how we cope.

My last suicide attempt was severe and I was in hospital for a few days before moving to the psych unit. Obviously the suicide didn't succeed. Am I glad it didn't? Not really. That's the thing. Now that I am not in an active crisis, I can clearly see a need for VAD for some with mental illnesses. But maybe not during an active episode. So time to think. To be certain.