I obviously missed the nuances of his “which is simply a really bad choice to make” statement.I don't think Ydraw is talking about people with severe depression/suicidal tendencies, as you have inferred. In general his comments are spot on, you just have to make the best of it if the alternative is steep decline in living standard. Unless you're ok with that.
People like ydraw think everything is so black and white - but it’s not. A bit like you equating a drop in pay to a drop in living standard - as if income / wealth is the sole measure of a person’s living standard.
Where I work 3 people in the last 2 months have dropped to 4days per week because they value their time more than the extra money. 2 of them are between 35 and 45 so it’s not like they’re transitioning to retirement or anything (the other is just on 50).