Trigger warning: mentions of suicide and sexual harassment
“Hello, I’m Joseph. I’m bipolar. I’ll move to the Netherlands and legally end my life.”
On December 9th, 2024, Joseph “Nanakuwame” and Auerdalko (aka Okuntaquinte) posted a reel on Instagram with the above message.
The message was clear, but painful. The decisions behind it were not easy and impulsive. After the request, it takes him almost four years to get approval to legally end his life through euthanasia.
The public’s response was shocking to say the least. In a digital space that is often clouded by ock laughter and denial, Joseph’s message was filled with unexpected empathy. Some accused him of praise for his death and suicide, but others (hundreds) invited him to dinner. Many shared their experiences – the stories of loved ones who were lost in suicide or personal battles have been silent for too long.
Joseph says he has lived with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder for years. After long and painful contemplation, he decided to legally end his life by moving to the Netherlands.
“I’m not special, I’m ready,” said Joseph, a 28-year-old artist from Ghana.
In 2023, the Netherlands recorded 9,068 euthanasia, accounting for 5.4% of all deaths in the country. Still, Joseph may be one of the first to document such a deep and personal journey very openly on social media.
“Two days ago I announced my decision to legally end my life in the fight against bipolar disorder that I can withstand treatment. And now my fiancé has left me. And I won’t blame him. We are still friends, but the pain is still quite realistic.”
The last dinner
While awaiting his final approval, Joseph has always been an artist – launched a new project entitled “The Last Supper.”
Inspired by the dinner invitation he received following the announcement of Ethanacia, he visits the homes of strangers who invite him to share moments of meals, conversations and connection.
So far, Joseph has attended such a dinner 70. His calendar was full within hours of opening it. Many hosts were people fighting their mental health, some preparing for their own aid deaths.
One of them was Emmanuel, and Joseph shared his 70th dinner. Emmanuel is due to undergo a medically supported death on July 30th.
“Today was the first (and possibly the last) time my dear friend Emmanuel, preparing for his medically assisted death on July 30th, had cooked for me.
For his 40th dinner, Joseph was hosted by a South Indian woman and her friends. He was also invited to the pop sensation SZA.
But why does Joseph want to die?
Joseph’s decision is very personal and we don’t fully know what pushed him to this point, but one thing is certain. His life was not easy.
According to Joseph, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 16. He also claims he was sexually assaulted. In May 2024, he said he was sexually assaulted twice in June 2021 by artist Kehinde Wiley during and after a dinner event in Ghana. As a child, he was repeatedly abused by his mathematics teacher.
However, his biggest fight was with his mental illness. After countless unsuccessful treatments, he was not relieved. He has attempted suicide three times before and now believes euthanasia is a more dignified way of doing it.
Disability confusion
“I’m not saying that life (as a phenomenon) is not worth living. That’s absolutely true. What I’m saying is that my mental weight is completely unbearable,” Joseph shared in another post.
According to him, the main reason for pursuing euthanasia is his bipolar disorder. The American Psychiatry Association defines bipolar disorder as a condition characterized by a severe emotional state (a period that lasts from days to weeks) that affect mood, energy and function.
Absie Sam, a psychologist from Mumbai, explains that bipolar disorder is far from just mood swings. It’s an emotional extreme cycle – a war between euphoric heights and shattering reductions. She says many people with bipolar disorder also suffer deep trauma, repeatedly ineffective, and often feel socially excluded due to the strength of their emotions.
“From a purely psychiatric perspective, there’s care – certainly – but in many cases it feels like a band-aid is placed on a deep wound. The core pain, emotional confusion, is rarely charged.
Shika Shah, a practitioner of expressive art therapy for Doctor Drama, said, “To be honest, nothing in particular seems to work for Joseph’s choice of path. People forget that mental pain is just as unbearable as physical pain.
Many mental health experts agree that Joseph’s case and others like him will become awakening appeal to make mental health a mainstream conversation.
“These stories continue until mental health concerns are given the same or even more physical health from doctors, experts, doctors and the broader health care system. It’s tragic,” says Sam.
Mental health is still neglected in many parts of the world, including India. Joseph’s story reminds us of that.
A similar debate broke out online in May 2024 when Zoraya Ter Beek, a 28-year-old Dutch woman, ended her life through euthanasia due to a long-term, treatment-resistant mental illness.
Diagnosed with chronic depression, autism and borderline personality disorder, Zolaya has been battling suicidal thoughts since childhood. Despite over 30 sessions of extensive treatment, medication, and electroconvulsive therapy, doctors ultimately declared that she could not treat her condition.
Both Beek and Joseph’s stories highlight important changes. Euthanasia is no longer about physical pain, but also includes mental pain that is now unbearable.
Death: Is it legal in India?
On a spiritual level, Mumbai-based therapist Anupriya M Banerjee draws attention to the practice of Jainism in Santhara or Sallekhana. It’s not the same as suicide. Rather, it is a voluntary act of spiritual separation, gradually stopping eating, drinking and participating in worldly life.
Some animals, like cats, often compare themselves to how to isolate themselves and stop eating when they feel the end is near.
In that sense, both Sallekhana and euthanasia reflect a deeper perception of the self, Anupriya says.
However, from a legal standpoint, Abhinav Shrivastava, co-founding partner of GSL Chambers and Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India, explains that euthanasia is highly debated in the country. Currently, India only allows passive euthanasia. This means retracting life support or halting treatment to allow terminally ill people to die naturally.
Abhinav points out that passive euthanasia was first legalized after the landmark Aruna Shanbaug incident. Arna was left in nourishment for more than 40 years following the brutal rape in 1973. The court rejected the plea to actively end her life, but recognized the possibility of allowing life support in similar cases under court supervision.
In January 2023, the Supreme Court further eased the process of proceeding with medical direction, making it easier for individuals to express their desire to die with dignity in a particular medical scenario.
However, active euthanasia (using lethal substances to end lives) and suicide assisted assistance (where people help someone end another life) remain illegal in India. In fact, they are considered criminal offences.
However, euthanasia is not something to be taken lightly.
“It’s great to have a more dignified and thoughtful choice compared to something like suicide, but it requires strict boundaries and ethical checks to make sure it’s really the last option,” says Shah.
We conclude with a question that refuses to leave us. If Joseph and others had better care, early intervention, a safer space to deal with their trauma, sadness and pain, would euthanasia still feel like their only way?
