Prof Louis Appleby CBE, Expert on Preventing Suicide speaks about assisted dying. This week Chelsea and Fiona speak to Professor Louis Appleby, psychiatrist and academic researches suicide prevention. Prof Appleby is also the UK government adviser on suicide prevention, although he speaks freely here as an academic. This discussion obviously touches on suicide and suicidality, but it’s hard to imagine a more decent and thoughtful guide to the important work of preventing suicide, through giving hope and a future to those at their most vulnerable. What Louis has to say blows open the idea that assisted dying (aka suicide) can be separated from suicide prevention: MPs and campaigners must take note.

He tells us:

That those traumatised people - like victims of abuse - who are so often failed by services are the people who find themselves eligible for assisted dying: where instead of helping them to live, the state assists them to die.

That society wants suicide prevention and the dangers of assisted dying chipping away at this historical consensus that suicide should be prevented.

His response to the claims by Bill Committee witness that assisted dying is in fact a form of suicide prevention: (“It’s nonsense”).

His horror at the invented diagnosis of terminal anorexia, and what that says about giving up on those with eating disorders.

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What else is happening in the world of Assisted Death?

Have you written to your MP? Labour’s Jess Asato is holding an event in parliament and we want your MP to attend: tell them how you feel today https://theotherhalf.uk/write-to-your... The big next stage for MPs on the Assisted Dying bill has been delayed to the 16th May, after local elections.