Death: The Goddess Of Life And Balance (April 27, 2016)

The subject matter discuss, here, may be uncomfortable, for some people, as it deals with death and the right to end one's life.

For many

She is

Evil incarnate.

Who's name

Is never spoken

Out loud.

In fear of

It'll invoke

Her appearance.

And yet

For people

Like myself

Who suffer chronically.

Whether

Mentally

Physically

Or both.

She

Is

Relief.

Despite this

We're taught

In the West

Taking our own lives

Is a mortal sin.

Damning us

To Eternal Hell.

Worsening

The societal stigma

For those

Who suffer

From mental illness.

Never mind

If you're hearing

Suicidal thoughts

Telling you:

"Just do it".

Something

I know

All too well.

Given

My daily fight

To tune them

Out.

And yes

I do have

Several plans

Should the need

Arise.

But

The mere fact

I have them

Doesn't mean

I am suicidal.

Or that

You'll trigger me

To commit

This very act.

Rather

Am seeking someone

Who'll listen

To my needs.

Knowing

Silence isn't golden

But deadly

For someone

Like myself.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: The following links, are part of the opening discussion that Canada is starting to have right now, concerning assisted death and mental health, as the federal parliament begins debate the proposed changes to the legislation that Supreme Court of Canada ruled, was unconstitutional, last year. Sadly, the governing Liberals have removed all references for the mentally ill, to have control over their lives, by allowing us, this option, should we choice to do so.

http://thewalrus.ca/suicide-is-not-painless/

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-april-25-2016-1.3551316/an-open-uncomfortable-conversation-on-mental-health-suicide-and-doctor-assisted-death-1.3551346

A Pissed Off Consumer (April 25, 2016)

Before you

Are the words

Of a person

Who has lived

With mental illness

For more than 40 years.

Often

In silent suffering.

Been told

At a young age

To suck it

And deal with it

Like a man.

At what point

Does society

Start to respect

My rights?

For I don't write

In the hope

Of seeking

Your meaningless pity.

Rather

An expression

Of my anger

Towards a system

That has failed me

On some many levels.

I am giving up

On it.

A system

Taken to

The butcher block

Once

Too often.

To keep healthcare

Cost down.

As long term programs

Are becoming

Like the Dodo bird.

Extinct. 

Being replaced

By short

To medium term

Programs.

Even

These programs

Have long waiting list

To access them.

As Canada's parliament

Gears up

For its internal debate

On assisted death.

Will my wish

Be granted

Allowing me

Should I want it.

To end

My suffering

In a dignified manner.

Like others

Who are enduring

Long term

Debilitating pain.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: Many opponents to this propose legislation, are demanding increase programs, for the mental illness, but haven't put forward, who will pay for these new expenditures, as Health Care, is a provincial area of power, under the Canadian constitution that is funding by, the federal government, through transfer payments. Under the currently proposed legislation, I wouldn't qualify, due to my mental illness, even though, a committee has recommended that mentally ill patients, be included, in the group that can apply for assisted death, from a physician.