It's no secret that (worldwide), many in society seem very uncomfortable with the open discussion of this subject. It seems to me that censoring it, and preventing people from openly communicating will only make the problem much worse.
When prohibition of alcohol was enforced years ago, did it stop people from drinking? It just drove the problem underground. Bootlegging began, causing dangerous manufacturing processes, which resulted in unpredictable and tragic health consequences. If prohibition was a good solution, we would still be using it today.
Banning or censoring free speech (online or anywhere else) will only drive the conversations underground, where the efforts for encouraging recovery will most likely NOT be taking place.
It's understandable that so many in society feel uncomfortable discussing the subject of death and suffering, but the result of allowing these conversations IMO, is that people feel supported and understood.
By allowing citizens around the world to build a community of people who understand what each other is going through, it dramatically reduces the amount of anxiety for those who are suffering intensely. This will result in a DECREASE in suicide rates around the world, NOT an increase.
Stigmatizing the entire subject is obviously not working, as suicide is currently the number one cause of death WORLDWIDE for people under 35. Also number one for MEN under 50 (even eclipsing auto accidents!). By limiting access to safe, medical assistance in dying programs, this forces many who are suffering intolerably to resort to dangerous and painful unassisted methods, where the chances of further disability and suffering are extremely high.
If people know they have access to a safe and peaceful way of relieving their intense pain, if absolutely necessary, then this dramatically reduces anxiety levels and improves overall mental health. When you combine assisted and unassisted methods, this will result in FEWER people committing suicide overall.
Those citizens suffering strictly from poverty, should be supported by programs such as disability benefits, universal basic income, and assistance in finding employment. This would prevent those suffering from poverty and disabilities from being motivated to choose assisted dying for financial reasons. IMO, if you take all financial reasons off the table, NO ONE is going to want to prematurely end their life, unless they are truly suffering intolerably, with no other possible solutions available to solve the problem(s). Then EVERY adult can make this extremely important decision for themselves.
Obviously, the ultimate objective should ALWAYS be recovery, and that is why this open discussion forum is so important. What people in the mainstream media (and healthy/happy individuals) should be learning from this forum, is that there are a LOT of people who feel they have no way of escaping their pain in this life, without resorting to the various painful and dangerous methods that are often discussed.
By also offering many recovery and mental health support resources, along with encouraging and moderating a respectful environment for open communication and community, it's undeniable that this forum is saving many.
