Suicide vs Dying with Dignity

Suicides, considering suicides or dying with dignity and medical assisted in dying cover everyone from young to old, rich to poor. It cuts across religions, cultures, genders, income levels, and geography. The bandwidth of people, situations, reasons, side-effects and and and ...  There are no real shared similar and for sure not unique patterns from when the suicide is thought of to the point it is attempted.

For some people, suicide is an impulsive response to life challenges, such as losing a loved one, a job, a setback, or another substantial challenge. In a number of cases, suicide ideation and thoughts grow over time, especially for someone with a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression and as well people with a life of suffering and walked through hell (pain and / or mental suffering). The burden of these conditions and challenges of life may lead them into thinking of suicide or dying in dignity.

Whatever the process that leads to end one's life is, the effects of suicide go beyond themselves. It affects their families, friends, colleagues, and communities.

What can we do to create hope and prevent the next suicide? Or if the wish to die is reasonable and well thought through - how can we help the people to pass away with dignity and with a few good hours, days or even weeks or months.

Ask the person exhibiting suicidal thoughts and actions what the challenge is, where it hurts and how you can help. Listen patiently to know what is said and interpret it as the person means it. Do not make an educated guess or see their reasons as excuses. 

Many of us may have learned to associate suicide with a criminal act - as implied by the wording 'killing oneself' or 'committed suicide' against 'died by suicide' or 'dying with dignity'. 

Moreover, some may believe that suicide happens out of the blue and thus cannot be prevented; or that talking about suicide may cause someone to take their life  - though talking about suicide with a warm, understanding listener can help to relieve suffering and decrease risk- or that psychological sickness, emotionally disturbed, mentally disturbed, mentally ill, mental disorder develop suicidal thoughts and actions always - psychological and mental aspects can but must not have effects - a number of studies since decades show this crystal clear.

The loss of life is always terribly sad, but when an individual chooses it, it can be weighed against the value of allowing them the autonomy to make that decision. And it can or it is a balancing act - Suicide prevention and upholding the dignity of human life and dying with dignity.

I think that people who see no distinction, no difference between suicide and aid in dying have probably not had very much experience with either, because experientially, they’re diametrically opposed. They’re not just a little bit different. They are diametrically opposite experiences. And I have had experience with both. But they to share characteristics - these people need our help and support - one way or another.

Closing Thoughts

A person who thinks about suicide to take one's own life reaches a point of challenges and hopelessness. They see no way out and want to escape from themselves.
But who are choosing a 'death with dignity' for these persons dying is THE way they want to go based on carefully thought-out considerations and a well-considered decision.

Human dignity is something that we seek to protect through human rights law, but it is also something that we seek to facilitate, by individual autonomy for our lives and as well when life is getting harder and painful.
The right to life is based on the idea that life is something valuable in and of itself. But without the option to end one’s own life, life can become an obligation – rather than a right to life. 

In this context

In this context you might be interested another article - even as I haven't had translated it up to now - it is good to know that every browser offers real good options for a translation ... Freitod + Sterbehilfe vs Suizid + Prävention  -  Dying with Dignity + Assistance in Dying vs Suicide + Prevention