While I would not consider Social Contagion a disease, the phenomena is something that certainly can cause human beings to act. In some circumstances, the actions brought on by Social Contagion can either be fatal or life altering. Thus, even the article reporting on a physically healthy 29- year- old ending her life in pursuit of a cure to her mental health issues contained cautions and advised individuals to seek health advice if they were having suicidal thoughts. It even provided a contact number. In essence, even journalists, non-health specialist, practiced extreme caution when even writing about the topic.
According to the article, she was in relationship with a man, she had a pet cat and she was attractive. Further, she lived in Holland, a wonderful country. Despite all this, her psychological treatment could not save her. According to her mental health provider, she was at the end of the line. It was also reported that she suffered from autism.
One must ask whether this landmark event is about suicide or about the state of the institution of medicine, namely the field psychology, and medical ethics. With medical ethics, “death” is now an instrument to be employed for “life affirming care.” With the field of psychology, there are concerns to be raised over the nature and extent of psychotherapy.
When my elderly father had a simple kidney infection, we expressed concerns over medications due to him having only one kidney. The medical provider instantaneously raised the issue of hospice. We had to advise this doctor that “no, we did not want to kill off our father.” Rather, “we were concerned over the side effects of particular medications on his one functioning kidney.”
Psychology is a dangerous area of medicine. While it can be helpful, it has a downside. From personal experience, I can attest that therapy is best compared to a stand-up comedy routine. After one has gone through their life story, sessions can often be a recounting the traumas of the past week.
Patients can become pre-occupied on a weekly basis obtaining enough material to complain about for an entire 45 minute session. These sessions always conclude with a scheduling of the next appointment.
Has there ever been a time when a therapist, ten minutes in, saying “you are doing great, get out of here, and never come back”? In essence, psychotherapy can amplify or fixate individuals upon their problems rather than relieve or cure them. Perhaps, in the case of this young lady, she was able to wear out her therapist. At that point, seeking care outside of the field would have been indicated.
In the end, the toxic combination of medical ethics and psychology achieved the greatest moment in orwelllian history: assisted suicide is now officially life affirming care. The consequences of this will be reverberating in society for many decades. In my mind, I know where this will be going. At this point in time, however, it is not the time to express it in print.
Thus, I am compelled to conclude with the following caution: DON’T DO IT!
Be well!!
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The Ten Commandments Project 