Physically healthy woman, 34, plans to die by euthanasia today on birthday after suffering depression since she was 7
A PHYSICALLY healthy Dutch woman suffering from crippling depression has made plans to end her life by euthanasia today – on her 34th birthday.
Jolanda Fun, who has prepared for her funeral in advance, says she hopes to be the latest person in the Netherlands to receive a doctor-assisted death.
Despite having a family and a dog, Jolanda has been fighting crippling depression since age seven – and described her life as constant pain.
She was medically diagnosed at age 22 – and has tried to seek help from dozens of therapy sessions.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Jolanda revealed she has long suffered from mental health problems including depression, autism and mild learning difficulties – and now wants to “step out of life”.
The Dutch woman said she puts up a mask in all her social situations to hide her inner feelings, which she described as “dark, overstimulation, chaos in my head, loneliness”.
She said in her interview: “Most of the time I just feel really s***ty, sad, down, gloomy.
“People don’t see it, because that’s the mask I put on and that’s what you learn to do in life.
“My father is sick, my mother is sick, my parents are fighting to stay alive, and I want to step out of life,” she added.
Jolanda chose euthanasia as her preferred course two years ago after a medical counsellor said laws in the Netherlands permitted it for psychiatric reasons.
She made a post on Facebook where she wrote she was looking for medical experts who could help her with the process.
And during her interview with the publisher, Jolanda revealed her euthanasia was scheduled on April 25 – which also happens to be her 34th birthday.
She described euthanasia as a “dignified and painless death” – and added that one can peacefully step out of life with their loved ones around them.
What is euthanasia?
EUTHANASIA, sometimes known as mercy killing, is the practice of intentionally ending someone's life to relieve their pain and suffering.
The term comes from an ancient Greek phrase meaning “good death”.
Euthanasia is deliberately helping or encouraging someone to take their own life, for example by providing them with medicine to do so.
Euthanasia is a crime under English law, carrying a maximum penalty of life in jail, and assisted suicide 14 years.
The only exception is “passive euthanasia”, which is where treatment that might extend someone’s life is withdrawn – such as a life machine being turned off.
For terminally ill patients in the UK, the only alternatives are hospice care or refusing treatment, which mentally capable patients have the right to do.
As a result, some terminally ill people decide to travel abroad to die.
Euthanasia and dying is a controversial issue – with passionate campaigners on each side of the argument.
People who agree with euthanasia often argue that people should be allowed to die with dignity – and they should be able to decide when and how they die, and potentially save their loved ones the pain of seeing them suffer.
Some also believe death is private, and it’s not the state’s place to interfere if a person wants to die.
Those in favour of euthanasia also point out that we euthanise our pets as an act of kindness – and resources could be put towards people who want to live, or whose conditions are curable.
However, there are concerns that allowing euthanasia would give doctors too much power, and might even worsen care for the terminally ill and research into their illnesses.
Some also believe it goes against the job description of doctors and nurses and the oath they take to not harm patients – they also say it undermines the value of human life.
Others also worry about the possibility of someone potentially recovering, or changing their mind when it’s already too late.
Some have even suggested it could lead to people feeling pressured into asking to die, as they don’t want to be a burden upon those around them.
Euthanasia has been legal in The Netherlands since 2002 – but remains illegal in the UK.
Under Dutch law, a patient qualifies for an assisted death after they have exhausted all reasonable treatments and can prove they have “unbearable suffering without prospect of improvement”.
More people are turning to euthanasia as a legal way to end their suffering as they struggle with depression or anxiety – made worse by economic uncertainty and social media.
In 2017, out of 6,585 deaths from euthanasia in the Netherlands, 84 were on the grounds of psychiatric suffering.
But the approval procedure for psychiatric petitions can take years and only approximately 10 per cent of applications are granted.
A few days ago, another Dutch woman Zoraya ter Beek revealed she wants to end her life by euthanasia after suffering from severe depression.
She is scheduled for the process in May after being told her condition will “never get better”.
Zoraya once aspired to become a psychiatrist but couldn’t finish her studies because she was struggling with depression and autism.
For ten long years, she tried all possible solutions from therapy to medications to improve her condition.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123