This is the first time I came across this word. Euthanasia.
It’s also called “mercy killing”, or “painless death.” This is the definition from google “the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.”
I searched about it after hearing a patient telling me about “legalised suicide” in some countries. She isn’t depressed, but she was for quite a period of time. When she was thinking about ending her life and making plans about it, she came across this idea – that it’s legal in some countries and even some with the assistance of a physician. (You may read more about it on google, especially the Belgium’s “Euthanasia Act”).
She asked me, “isn’t that nice? So it wouldn’t be so painful. And less trial and error. Maybe it’s just a pill and it’s done”
I’m aware of quite a number of patients of high risk suicidal, yet they are still around because they are scared to do it or scared of pain. I’m thanking god that they are scared of pain and hence they are still around, and hence I still get to help them.
I asked her, “Joey, do you still want to end your life now?”
“No, but back then yes. I didn’t do it because I was scared, but it would be good if it’s legal and I can die painlessly” (N.B. even if it’s legal it’s under certain kind-of-strict conditions, it’s definitely not that simple)
“So now you are ok to live on?” “Yes”
“That’s the thing.” I explained to her, “Joey back then wanted to die. That was Joey with depression wanted to commit suicide. But does Joey (without depression) want to die?”
“Ehmm I guess no” (She’s no longer depressed now)
Actually that’s all I want to say today. You feel like there’s no purpose to live on, you want to die, you might even feel like a burden to your family, or it’s such a suffer living… But it’s you with depression (or other mental/physical problems) who are thinking so. It’s not you. It’s like when you’re enraged (very, very angry) you shout that you want a break up or a divorce, but you don’t mean it at all. You regret it later on. So when your emotion is not like the usual you, you can’t make the decision to take away your own life, it’s not (the original) you, yes it might feel so real, but no, you don’t mean it. So don’t do this. Please seek help. It can be treated, and you can be like many of my patients, who are grateful that they didn’t/couldn’t make that move.
Please give yourself a second chance. Malaysia suicide hotlines:
The Befrienders
03-7956 8144/ 03-7956 8145
www.befrienders.org.my
Life Line Association Malaysia
03-4265 7995
http://lifeline.org.my/cn/
Agape Counselling Center Malaysia
03-7785 5955 / 03-7781 0800
http://www.agape.org.my
Related read (in Chinese): 识别自杀的预警信号