Help Not Harm for those with Mental Illness

In Canada, new laws will take effect next year. As of March 17, 2027, those suffering solely from a mental illness will be eligible to pursue Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).

This despite the fact that years of study have demonstrated that:

  • Suicidal thoughts can be symptoms of illness.

  • Recovery is possible with proper treatment and support.

  • Care gaps remain - some may seek death because they can’t access help.

  • The most vulnerable face greater risk - poverty, abandonment, and disability can push them toward despair.

Contact your Member of Parliament and tell them to stop the expansion of MAiD for those with mental illness and support Bill C-218 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying);  “The Right to Recover Act”.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, experiencing a mental health crisis, or having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 9-8-8 immediately (available 24/7 in Canada and the US) to connect with a trained crisis counsellor.

The Clock is Ticking – It’s Time to Act!

We anticipate a vote on this legislation sometime in April 2026 so please contact your Member of Parliament today.

Chances are you know someone with a mental illness—1 in 5 Canadians are affected each year. Our duty is to offer care, hope, and protection—not death.

Bill C-218, The Right to Recover Act, proposes two changes to the criminal code:

  1. Makes it a criminal offence to provide MAiD to a person whose sole underlying condition is mental illness and;

  2. Amends the criminal code so that a mental health disorder is not a “grievous and irremediable medical condition when it is the sole underlying condition. In short, being diagnosed with a mental health condition alone would not make one eligible for medical assistance in dying.

We’re asking Members of Parliament from all parties to reach across party lines and answer the call for help that so many in their communities desperately need after a diagnosis of mental illness.

Why Support Bill C-218

  • Ethical duty to protect life during crisis. Mental health crises are often temporary. Society has a responsibility to offer care, hope, and protection—not a permanent solution to temporary suffering.

  • MAiD contradicts suicide prevention efforts. Allowing MAiD for mental illness sends a conflicting message at a time when Canada is investing in suicide prevention and crisis support.

  • Potential for expansion over time. Many Canadians worry that eligibility criteria and safeguards could gradually weaken, expanding access beyond what was originally intended. 

  • “Irremediable” mental illness cannot be reliably determined. There is no medical consensus on when a mental health condition is truly untreatable, making accurate and ethical assessments extremely difficult.

Facts on Mental Illness in Canada:

  • About 4,000 Canadians each year die by suicide – an average of almost 11 suicides a day.  

  • In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness.

  • By the time Canadians reach age 40, 1 in 2 have – or have had – a mental illness.

  • 39% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety or depression).

  • Mental illness and substance use disorders are leading causes of disability in Canada.

    (source: www.CAMH.ca)