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 Kevin Hines Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) is one of the most complex, emotionally charged topics of our time. It’s a subject that evokes strong feelings because it sits at the intersection of compassion, suffering, dignity, and the very value of human life. I want to be clear: my stance comes from my lived experience, my advocacy for mental health and suicide prevention, and my deep empathy for those enduring pain beyond imagination. I have met people living in constant, excruciating, terminal physical agony, and I fully understand the daily torment they endure, as someone who lives with chronic excruciating physical pain from my attempt off the Golden Gate Bridge. For those individuals, and especially for those in a vegetative state or near the end of life, I can absolutely understand why PAS is an option they might consider. While my hope will always be that they find reasons to stay, I cannot condemn the depth of their choice without empathy for their immeasurable pain. But when it comes to those struggling with suicidal ideation due to past trauma, mental illness, brain pain, or the crushing weight of depression, my conviction is unwavering: PAS is not the answer. I know this not from theory, but from the edge of death itself. Years ago, I stood on the precipice of the Golden Gate Bridge, believing my mental pain would never end. I believed I was a burden, that there was no future worth living for. I was wrong. That leap, which I thank God I survived, taught me a truth that has guided my life’s mission: mental pain can be healed, mental illness can be managed, and there is always hope for a better tomorrow. I’ve seen it thousands of times, in survivors I’ve met across the globe, in those who once wanted to die but are now thriving. Depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, even schizophrenia; these conditions are real, painful, and exhausting. But they are not terminal sentences. With the right combination of therapy, medical care, lifestyle changes, social connection, and purposeful living, people can and do recover. They can move from wanting to end their lives to embracing life with open arms. That’s why I believe it is pure evil to end the life of someone who is depressed, someone whose illness is treatable, whose circumstances can change, whose brain can heal. Ending that life robs them of the chance to see the light that could one day break through the darkness. Remember, we’re all going to die some day. None of us have cracked the code to immortality, give yourself time, energy, effort, and put in the Hard Work for things to change! There are countless paths to a life worth living, even with a mental health diagnosis. I’ve walked that road myself, from the depths of despair to a life filled with meaning, love, and purpose. It wasn’t easy. It took work, patience, and a fierce commitment to stay alive even when I didn’t feel like it. But it was worth every moment. If you are struggling today, please hear me: your story is not over. The pain you feel is not permanent. There is a version of your life where you are thriving, laughing, loving, and grateful to still be here. You just haven’t met that version yet. PAS may have a place in the conversation for terminal, unbearable physical suffering. But for those enduring mental pain, there is another way, many other ways. And I will spend the rest of my life fighting to help you find them. Choose life. Choose to stay. Choose to see what comes next. Because what comes next might be beautiful. ∎ If you struggle mentally with 'Brain Pain’, read my new book released in August for National Wellness Month “The Art of Wellness: How To Find, Live, & Stay Mentally Fit”. It’s a wellness tracking workbook to change your brain, and change your life. Let’s make a life worth living together. Learn more about the book here: https://awarenow.us/book/the-art-of-wellness
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