“People think that when you’re mentally ill, you can’t think straight, which is insulting,” she told the Guardian. “I understand the fears that some disabled people have about assisted dying, and worries about people being under pressure to die… But in the Netherlands, we’ve had this law for more than 20 years. There are really strict rules, and it’s really safe.”
She embarked on intensive treatments, including talking therapies, medication and more than 30 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). “In therapy, I learned a lot about myself and coping mechanisms, but it didn’t fix the main issues. At the beginning of treatment, you start out hopeful. I thought I’d get better. But the longer the treatment goes on, you start losing hope.”
After 10 years, there was “nothing left” in terms of treatment. "I’ve never hesitated about my decision. I have felt guilt – I have a partner, family, friends and I’m not blind to their pain. And I’ve felt scared. But I’m absolutely determined to go through with it.
Honestly and genuinely, I’m glad to see all that she has put into this decision and glad the state is allowing it. Now she doesn’t need to cause further pain to others through a traumatic suicide and she can gain the peace she’s been longing for.
Each day, so many lives are snuffed out of existence without a second thought. She has given this an incredible amount of thought, time, and work.
Rest in peace, Zoraya. 💜
P. S. There’s thousands of live today that want to live. They don’t want to die. And yet their lives are taken away in an instant. Perhaps we should focus on saving them rather than making someone like Zoraya feel even worse.
Mental health is a complex field. The example you reference is quite different from what this article is about and the care involved for each is highly variable depending on the circumstances. Due diligence, again, is highly circumstantial but rarely, if ever, hasty.
In the end, it’s between that person and their care providers. I word it pluraly because significant decisions such as this are not made on a whim or with only having seen a single provider. It’s a matter of years and a lot of labor.
Having read the article, I’m sure you recall how this isn’t something her government readily allows and the decade she had spent making the decision.
.
Now for a general comment that’s on my mind at this moment, not aimed at you Zozano, but to everyone with strong conditioning against such things (of which I once was myself)…
It truly boggles my mind how folks can be so interested in injecting their beliefs and opinions into other peoples personal lives against those people’s will when there are so many people suffering, literally begging for help, and constantly being ignored. The choices a person makes on matters like these are there own. If we want to help people live healthier lives, then we shouldn’t be focused on people like Zoraya (who don’t want our intrusion) but on those we habitually ignore in desperate need who are all around us near and far.
Honestly and genuinely, I’m glad to see all that she has put into this decision and glad the state is allowing it. Now she doesn’t need to cause further pain to others through a traumatic suicide and she can gain the peace she’s been longing for.
Each day, so many lives are snuffed out of existence without a second thought. She has given this an incredible amount of thought, time, and work.
Rest in peace, Zoraya. 💜
P. S. There’s thousands of live today that want to live. They don’t want to die. And yet their lives are taken away in an instant. Perhaps we should focus on saving them rather than making someone like Zoraya feel even worse.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but it feels weird. We’ve been conditioned to think everyone can be saved somehow.
I’m curious about how a psychologist can judge whether this is the best action for their patient.
It makes me think about the amount of diligence given for preteens who are transgender. But even then, a small amount later detransition.
Surely, some small number of people given legal means of suicide would have changed their minds later in life.
Mental health is a complex field. The example you reference is quite different from what this article is about and the care involved for each is highly variable depending on the circumstances. Due diligence, again, is highly circumstantial but rarely, if ever, hasty.
In the end, it’s between that person and their care providers. I word it pluraly because significant decisions such as this are not made on a whim or with only having seen a single provider. It’s a matter of years and a lot of labor.
Having read the article, I’m sure you recall how this isn’t something her government readily allows and the decade she had spent making the decision.
.
Now for a general comment that’s on my mind at this moment, not aimed at you Zozano, but to everyone with strong conditioning against such things (of which I once was myself)…
It truly boggles my mind how folks can be so interested in injecting their beliefs and opinions into other peoples personal lives against those people’s will when there are so many people suffering, literally begging for help, and constantly being ignored. The choices a person makes on matters like these are there own. If we want to help people live healthier lives, then we shouldn’t be focused on people like Zoraya (who don’t want our intrusion) but on those we habitually ignore in desperate need who are all around us near and far.
Life’s one big experiment anyway… There is no peace.