A severely-depressed fellow in New Zealand severed his own finger, cooked it up with some vegetables, and ate it. Apparently this is only one of eight known cases of "self-cannibalism." The incident was discussed in the scientific journal Australasian Psychiatry. From their report, quoted in the New Zealand Herald:
"At the end of 2008, following another personal crisis, and while not being fully compliant with his medication, he spiralled into another episode of depression. He experienced significant insomnia and suicidal ideation, and ruminated for days about cutting off his fingers.
"In an effort to seek reprieve from these thoughts, he tied a shoelace around his [little] finger to act as a tourniquet and cut the finger off with a jigsaw.
"He then cooked it in a pan with some vegetables and ate its flesh. His plan was to amputate another two fingers the following day.
"Mr X reported initial excitement – non-sexual – and a sense of relief from his ruminations. Given the instantaneous benefit, he felt that there was no point in cutting off any more fingers."
The man later regretted the act of self-harm – his first – "because of its debilitating effect".
"Depressed man cooks and eats his finger"
