Considering the subject matter, I think it would be appropriate to provide a link to the pinned post with links to resources for those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. I do not intend to actively encourage or assist anyone in doing anything of the sort by making this thread, only to open up a discussion on the subject. I ask anyone who participates in this discussion to do the same, and approach the topic with a level of sensitivity, as it affects many.
Bodily sovereignty is the concept that a person's body is their own property. Thus their ability to self-govern matters regarding the use of their body must be respected. Self-ownership, or individual sovereignty, is the concept that one's self is one's own property, and thus their bodily sovereignty and ability to control the direction they take their life in should be respected.
Many consider that freedom a human right, but how far consideration of one's individual sovereignty should go before it's not a good enough reason to allow someone to do something is a subject of debate. This can, for example, be seen in arguments about birth control, abortion, transgender rights, and same-sex marriage.
But one of the topics people quite often draw the line on is the topic of suicide, the act of intentionally ending one's own life.
The only time I ever really see the will of the suicidal person brought up in debates about suicide is when the topic being discussed is whether or not people with terminal illnesses should be allowed to choose euthanasia. This is understandable, as the only way a person can escape suffering from the final stages of a terminal illness is to die, and thus it would be cruel to force the person to go through it just because other people want to keep them around a little longer.
When the motivation for death is rooted in things that have the potential to be improved if they stay alive, (mental illness, trauma, societal woes & discrimination, social isolation, substance abuse, etc.) people are less likely to want to provide them with that choice. As the saying goes, it becomes a permanent solution to a (possibly) temporary problem, a solution that can bring trauma and heartache to their loved ones when there are other options.
But then that takes us to a different question.
Should anyone else's opinion on the rationality of their motivation matter more than a person's individual sovereignty?
When we talk about abortion from a pro-choice standpoint, all that matters in deciding whether a person should be allowed to get an abortion is that they've made the decision that they would like one, because they should have the authority in the usage of their body and should be able to decide whether they want to have a child or not.
Their partner, for example, could disagree for a number of reasons. Maybe because they want to raise the child, and would suffer a deep emotional wound if the pregnancy was terminated. Maybe they see abortion as immoral, or otherwise disagree with it for social or religious reasons. But none of that would matter in the end, because the fetus is using the other parent's body to survive and thus it's not their call to make.
This line of reasoning ("my body, my choice!") can also be applied to suicide. But should it? Why or why not, NSG?
In my personal opinion, while it shouldn't ever be encouraged, suicide shouldn't be illegal. It's not my or anyone elses' place but the person to decide whether or not they'll end their own life.
I am a person who deals with suicidal ideation on a daily basis, and I would like my decision to be respected should I ever decide to do it. There are many factors that have lead to it, the primary ones being fighting a long battle with mental illness, social isolation, gender dysphoria with little to no chance of alleviating, as the only way I'd be able to live in my body without a problem is if shapeshifting became a thing, and having no will to deal with societal bullshit anymore.
Even though I feel guilty for feeling this way despite there being people in my life who would miss me, a number of which I can tell would never be able to get over me being gone, the sad fact is support alone isn't going to solve the actual problems that have lead me to feel this way. As much as I wish support from others was enough, in the end what I need in order to revive my will to live is improvement of the problems that cannot be ignored. If I don't get those results, I just don't see it as worth it to live, and I'd like to have the choice to end it when I'm ready.
Despite this, I do support recovery and the improvement and availability of mental health services, as well as increasing awareness and education on the subject. I think it would be a mistake to push for suicide prevention while neglecting to adequately address the issues that drive people to want to do it in the first place. People should still be there for those struggling with suicidal thoughts in their life and support them as best they can.
