Currently, 510 Belgians have been killed by euthanasia on account of their poor mental health since the country legalised the practice of assisted dying in 2002.
Belgium’s euthanasia law makes no distinction between ‘unbearable’ physical or mental pain.
In order for patients to meet the criteria for euthanasia for poor mental health, they should receive backing from two psychiatrists and one doctor who must agree the patient’s mental health problems are unbearable and untreatable.
Holland and Luxenberg are two other countries which permit euthanasia on the grounds of mental health.