Brittany Maynard Is Not My Hero

Over the last week I've heard Brittany Maynard called a lot of things: Advocate. Hero. Champion.  One word I wish more people would use about her is "wrong."

In case you missed it, Brittany Maynard is the young woman who found out she had brain cancer.  Rather than suffer through treatments, she moved to Oregon because of their laws on assisted suicide.  She took her life a few days ago.  (If you missed the story, you can catch up on it HERE.)

Many people who support "death with dignity" laws see her as a poster child for their cause.  I see her story as incredibly sad and tragic.  But the way it ended was not heroic; it sends a terrible message to people who struggle with thoughts of suicide and depression.

Suicide is not the best answer, but to a person who is suffering with mental illness, it seems like the only answer.

Rather than normalize suicide and make it seem like a noble act as the media and Ms. Maynard's supporters have done, it's time we have a real discussion about suicide. And more importantly, we need to work to make sure it DOES NOT happen, rather than encourage it as a viable solution.

If you want to know more about suicide and mental illness, read THIS.  And if you're thinking about ending your own life, please know that it's not the best or only way out.  Ask for help.  There's no shame in that.

And if you disagree with my thoughts, holla back at me.  I'm on twitter @RandyScottRadio.