CAMH welcomes the Federal Government’s proposed legislation on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The issue in relation to those with mental illness is extremely complex and we appreciate that the government has provided more time to consider the implications of MAID on vulnerable populations. CAMH recognizes that people with mental illness can experience intolerable psychological suffering as a result of their illness, but there is always the hope of recovery. In those rare cases where a mental illness may be determined to be irremediable, safeguards must be in place to make sure that an individual truly has the capacity to consent to MAID. We will use the time provided to us to consider the issue further and assist the Government in its review.
Today, too many Canadians do not get the care that they need when they need it. CAMH believes that governments at all levels must first and foremost improve access to quality mental health care as well as the social supports needed by the most vulnerable to recover their mental health.