Recently, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that suicide rates among American teenagers increased by an alarming 56 percent in the last 10 years. Sadly, suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among Americans ages 10 to 24 and is considered a public health crisis.
Paradoxically, measures to legalize physician-assisted suicide continue to be introduced across the nation and New Jersey recently became the eighth state to enact a law enabling terminally ill adult residents to request a lethal prescription to end their lives. Last week, a woman suffering from lung cancer chose to end her life, making her one of the first New Jerseyans to make use of the new law.
Meet Luke Maxwell. When Luke was 16 years old he felt alone and unwanted. After suffering for more than four years with undiagnosed Major Depressive Disorder, he attempted suicide by crashing his car at a high rate of speed. Luke survived and soon learned that he could be treated for his depression. After several years of treatment and healing, he now devotes his life to empowering others to recognize, overcome and be unashamed of their mental health challenges. Luke often talks about how his depression tricked him into thinking that suicide was his only way out.
When asked about physician-assisted suicide laws, Luke reflects: “When someone is standing on the ledge getting ready to jump, your natural response is to reach out and pull that person in. The message with assisted suicide is – go ahead and jump. Giving the person the means to kill themselves is giving them a nudge.”
Dr. Aaron Kheriarty, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of California and an expert on the problem of suicide, recently wrote to the American Medical Association stating:
“The desire to end one’s life, or the request for assisted suicide, is nearly always a cry for help… indicating that something in the patient’s situation (medical, psychological, or social) is not adequately being attended to – an untreated clinical depression, fear or anxiety about the future or about one’s medical condition, untreated or undertreated pain, family or relationship strain or conflict, and so on.
Well-replicated research demonstrates that 80 to 90 percent of suicides are associated with clinical depression or other treatable mental disorders, including for individuals at the end-of-life and individuals with a terminal condition. Yet alarmingly, according to the Oregon Health Department’s annual report, only 5 percent of the individuals who have died by assisted suicide under Oregon’s law were referred for psychiatric evaluation – and this number is decreasing every year. Considering what we know about suicide risk factors, this constitutes medical negligence.”
Assisted suicide laws send the mixed message that under difficult circumstances, some lives are not worth living. Unfortunately, this is a message that will be heard not only by terminally ill individuals, but by all vulnerable persons who are tempted to take their own lives. Who is to say that a woman battling cancer is suffering more or less pain than a teenager crippled by depression? In fact, studies in Oregon and Washington show a causal link between the legalization of assisted suicide and an increase in overall suicides in both states. Simply put: you don’t discourage suicide by assisting suicide.
Every suicide is tragic. Young or old, healthy or sick, all human life is precious. As Catholics, we believe that all life is a gift from God and that every person has inherent and inalienable dignity because we are made in God’s image and likeness. Based on this teaching and concern for human life and the common good, the Catholic Church does not support suicide in any form, including physician assisted suicide. “We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of…” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2280).
As faith communities, our parishes can play a role in helping to prevent suicide by providing strong social connections, a sense of belonging, purpose and hopefulness. We can offer spiritual support and a loving presence to those who are sick or near dying. Even just offering prayers during Mass for people who are facing a terminal illness or suffering from depression or other forms of mental illness can make a big difference to those who are struggling.
Most importantly, for those feeling unloved, unwanted and/or that they are a burden, we can remind them that God loves them more than they can ever imagine — beyond all measure — and that death will not triumph over life.
If you or someone you know needs help call the suicide helpline at (800) 273-8255 or visit: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/