The discovery of Lionel Henry Churchill, with a bullet wound beside his wife’s decomposed body, likely reflects an overwhelming emotional ordeal.
Despite professional advice for mental health treatment, he ended up with a six-month prison sentence for his suicide attempt.
Thomas McCarthy’s case is similarly troubling: he received a week in prison for consuming a harmful substance on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Walker’s experience adds to this narrative; he was fined £25 for attempting suicide with a revolver found on Dunkirk’s beach.
But why in the name of God were people punished for trying to take their own lives? Was the mental burden not severe enough?
The article below provides a history on why suicide was illegal half a decade ago and when it was finally changed. Have fun reading this!
True! Very nice to see that the legal system does not neglect mental health as much as it used to (even though it may still do to a certain extent now).
This is a fascinating piece of history that I wasn’t aware of. It’s surprising how societal perspectives on mental health and suicide have evolved over time.
