by Jeroslyn JoVonn
April 15, 2025
A British-Ghanian artist is documenting his journey to legally assisted demise within the Netherlands.
Artist Joseph Awuah-Darko is drawing dialog from his documented journey of pursuing legally assisted demise within the Netherlands.
The British-Ghanaian artist, who has lengthy struggled with treatment-resistant bipolar dysfunction, moved to the Netherlands, the place assisted euthanasia for psychiatric situations is permitted. Since saying his determination to pursue a legally assisted demise in December 2024, Awuah-Darko, 28, has acquired a variety of reactions on social media.
“What normally occurs while you cry on the web is that folks bully you and create memes out of your ugly crying,” he instructed USA At the moment in late March. “To my shock and a little bit of my bemusement, that didn’t occur to me.”
Sharing his path towards assisted demise isn’t new territory for Awuah-Darko, who has brazenly documented his expertise with bipolar dysfunction for years. After 5 years of contemplating assisted dying, he’s now pursuing the choice publicly, citing insufferable psychological struggling as the rationale.
“Hello,” he stated in his preliminary video announcement. “I’m Joseph. I’m bipolar, and I moved to the Netherlands to legally finish my life. I’m not particular. I’m simply prepared.”
Whereas some critics accused him of “romanticizing suicide,” hundreds of others responded with compassion—inviting Awuah-Darko to share a meal. The overwhelming outreach impressed him to launch the “Final Supper Challenge,” a worldwide tour of dinners with strangers.
As he awaits a choice on his euthanasia request, he’s already shared 93 meals and acquired greater than 4,000 invites. His journey has taken him to cities like Paris, Milan, Brussels, and Berlin, the place folks join with him—some hoping to shift his perspective, others merely providing love and presence earlier than his potential farewell.
“Dinner is a really, if not probably the most, intimate and intentional a part of anybody’s day,” he says. “For me, that has simply been a particular approach of fostering exceptional relationships and connections through the time I’ve left.”
Awuah-Darko, who has beforehand tried suicide, describes himself as “only one particular person amongst tens of millions” residing with bipolar dysfunction and persistent suicidal ideas. Conscious of the ability of social media, the artist is utilizing it to amplify a private story in hopes of sparking wider conversations.
“If folks select to see it as romanticizing, I believe that extra displays on them,” he stated.
In case you or somebody you already know is battling ideas of suicide or emotional misery, you’re not alone—and assist is obtainable. Within the U.S., you’ll be able to name or textual content 988 to achieve the Suicide & Disaster Lifeline, which offers free, confidential assist 24/7. It doesn’t matter what you’re going via, there are individuals who care and are able to pay attention. Your life issues.
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