Hi, my name is Xesce, and I've been living with complex mental
illness and trauma, as well as addiction, for more than 40 years.
At present, alcohol is my drug of choice.
I haven't had treatment in more than 30 years.
The people in my life haven't known how to support me, because they
haven't had enough support from society and institutions. The
effects of stigma are complicated, and not well understood.
The one person left in my life is burnt out and needs help and
support himself, but can't get it for the same reasons.
In order to even seek treatment and attend, I'd need massive support
and understanding, from family, and a village. I'd need an amount of
support and understanding that it is not reasonable to expect others
to provide.
I don't want treatment. The treatments available are not right
for me, even if I could access them. I feel I have suffered long
enough.
I am mentally competent to assess my quality of life and my future
prospects, including my social prospects.
I want help dying. I want humane end-of-life
options.
At present, Voluntary Assisted Dying is available everywhere in
Australia except the Northern Territory, but only to those who are
terminally ill and have six months* to live or less.
Mental illness is illness.
In many parts of the world, Voluntary Assisted Dying, euthanasia and
doctor-assisted suicide are becoming more common. I expect that
eventually, these options will be available in more circumstances -
even for those suffering psychological illnesses.
I want to put my voice in, now.
Even if I never get to avail myself of such assistance, it will be
meaningful to me to know that I spoke up, and that eventually others
like me, who want this, may be provided humane end-of-life
options.
This website is a record of my journey.
-Xesce, 28.03.22
[28.03.25: *It is now 12 months, and other changes have been made,
but the situation is pretty hopeless for people like me. My quality
of life has continued to decline, and now my medical health is poor
and likely to deteriorate further, but probably not in such a way
that I will qualify, even if I could manage to jump through all the
hoops - including that I'd have to show a passport and probably
some other things, like bank statements.]
->old intros
->xesce.net
