On December 6th, 2024, after communicating with friends and family, Joseph Awauh-Darko publicly announced via Instagram that he would end his life via euthanasia. The same doctor who delivered him at birth will complete the legal death. Joseph was diagnosed with bipolar depression and has moved to the Netherlands to end his life legally. It took him five years after diagnosis to believe his diagnosis. He wakes up in severe pain every day. Even with the highs, the lows are abysmal. Last year in the Netherlands, assisted suicide accounted for 5% of deaths, which is over 9,000 people, making Joseph feel like he isn’t the only one going through this. He has begun documenting his journey with The Last Supper Project since announcing his decision to pursue assisted euthanasia. This has become his way of building genuine connections with others through his love of food, which he has never fully explored. Typically, social media can feel a bit removed and impersonal, and he sincerely wants to deepen his connection with his followers on a more personal level as they walk this journey with him. This is why he created The Last Supper Diary!
“Unlike Didion, a staunch atheist, I grew up Catholic. So, taking this step to share my decision to pursue euthanasia as a PERSONAL choice was tough. But I owe it to the community of artists that look to my words for encouragement to be transparent.”
This is what I want them to know:
“I am not saying that life (as a phenomenon) isn’t worth living. It ABSOLUTELY is. What I am saying is that the mental weight of MINE has become entirely unbearable. 💔I am NOT special, like many people in their 20s; the constant burnout, the burden of debt, paralyzing depression, the violent media cycle, and the dystopian reality of AI …all weigh heavy. The reality I face of being bipolar exacerbates all this.”
“Now more than ever, the possibility of being humanely put to rest with dignity matters. I am at the beginning of this process and approved euthanasia has several stages. So, I will still be alive when my book “DearArtists” is published in the Spring of next year. And I have arranged for all my royalties to be given to a mental health charity. I am also selling my entire collection of contemporary art and concluding other affairs. I’m ready to go home.”
“I say this with all my love: Prayers are welcome. Compassion is welcome. Respectful curiosity is welcome. But guilt and emotional manipulation are NOT. Growing up in the Catholic Church, I have come to understand that guilt is an effective tool within organized religion but has often fallen flat when addressing actual suffering. Guilt and fear are the most revered forms of emotional blackmail in modern society, and we have usually failed to give us sustainable answers. I also want to say the following: I am a broken person. I am no one’s hero and am not a role model – I have mistakes, many shortcomings, and profound grief. I reserve the right to glow in my imperfection; by doing so, I hope to permit others to do the same. God bless us all” -Joseph
IDHS- Illinois Department Of Human Services
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988 is not just a simple number to remember; it serves as a direct link to caring and accessible support for anyone facing mental health challenges, including family members, friends, and caregivers. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to engage in live chat. You will be connected with a trained crisis counselor who will listen, offer support, and help you find your needed assistance.
