Euthanasia in Athens

In Athens, magistrates kept a supply of poison for those who wished to die. The person wishing to commit suicide was required to plead their cause before the senate and obtain official permission. The guidelines were clear:

"Whoever no longer wishes to live shall state his reason to the Senate, and after having received permission shall abandon life. If your existence is hateful to you, die; if you are overwhelmed by fate, drink the hemlock. If you bowed with grief, abandon life. Let the unhappy man recount his misfortune, let the magistrate supply him with the remedy, and his wretchedness will come to an end." 

These "guidelines" really surprise me. It seems harsh to not only have the officials tell healthy people to kill themselves if they are not happy but to also give them the ways to do so. I wonder how the people of that time reacted to this.