Educational Resource
Suicide and Assisted Suicide The Role of Depression (2017)
Suicide and Assisted Suicide: The Role of Depression, June 1, 2017
This USCCB fact sheet argues that requests for suicide or physician-assisted suicide among seriously ill and terminally ill patients are often strongly associated with depression, hopelessness, and other treatable psychological conditions, rather than being purely rational and stable choices.
Depression, hopelessness, and other treatable psychological conditions are central factors in many requests for assisted suicide or hastened death. It argues that healthcare providers should focus on identifying and treating these conditions, along with providing strong palliative and psychological support, before viewing a patient's desire for death as a settled and autonomous choice.
Key arguments
- Cancer patients face elevated suicide risk. The document cites research finding that people with cancer have approximately twice the suicide risk of the general population, particularly during the first year after diagnosis. Depression is identified as a major contributing factor, and depressed cancer patients were found to be much more likely to express a desire for hastened death.
- Depression is common but treatable. The fact sheet notes that the National Cancer Institute estimates depression affects 15–25% of cancer patients and rejects the idea that depression is simply a normal or unavoidable consequence of cancer. It also highlights findings that feelings of being a burden to others are closely linked to depression rather than actual physical dependence.
- Mental illness is a major risk factor for suicide. The document cites evidence that psychiatric illness, especially depression, is present in most suicide cases and argues that terminally ill patients who request an earlier death often suffer from treatable depressive conditions.
- Depression and hopelessness are stronger predictors than physical pain. Several studies cited in the document found that depression and hopelessness were more strongly associated with a desire for hastened death than pain or physical symptoms. In some studies, pain levels did not significantly differ between patients who desired an assisted death and those who did not.
- Desire for death can change over time. Research summarized in the fact sheet found that many terminally ill patients' wishes regarding death fluctuate, and that interventions addressing depression, hopelessness, and psychological distress may reduce the desire for hastened death.
- Psychological and existential concerns often outweigh physical suffering. The document cites reviews concluding that psychosocial factors—including depression, hopelessness, lack of spiritual well-being, and low social support—frequently play a larger role in requests for hastened death than pain alone.
- Older adults are also affected. Studies discussed in the fact sheet found strong links between suicidal thoughts among elderly individuals and psychiatric illnesses, particularly depression. The document argues against the assumption that suicidal feelings are a natural part of aging.