Venting Thinking about MAID

[lwovely]

I've been dealing with a major depressive disorder for a really long time now. Got diagnosed when I was like 16. I am honestly not so sure if I cannot take it anymore. I feel like I would not get anywhere in life and I am so close to failing school. I really want to do MAID because I don't think I can even contribute to society in any way. I struggle with being burnt out and brain fog. I live in Canada and I wish this was just an option for me but I know this will be available in 2027. I just cannot do it anymore.

 

[asthedayends00]

What is maid

 

[whywere]

What is maid

I think it means Medical Assistance in Dying. There is also VAD (Voluntary Assisted Death).

Walter

 

[dust-in-the-wind]

I'm so sorry you were diagnosed with MDD at such a young age. I also have MDD and I know how brutal it is.

 

[Alexei_Kirillov]

Don't hold your breath, the next government will be a Conservative majority in all likelihood, and we all know they aren't the biggest fans of MAID even in its current form.

 

[boxingbeagle]

MAiD is so far from becoming available for mental health issues. I've done research and advocacy for it, but here are a few of the stipulations with MAiD… and as @Alexei_Kirillov said, the future of it is in jeopardy. Besides the conversation alone getting pushed back to Mar 2027, I know for a fact believe that it will likely be a few years after that before the first Medically Assisted Death with the sole illness being mental illness.

After doing research on what would be required to access MAiD if I were to wait until it was "legalized", here are a few points.

• The individual must be assessed by two separate doctors. One must be an expert or specialize in the illness affecting the patient.
• Doctors will NOT easily suggest MAiD. Not only are their jobs to PREVENT people from dying (especially in Canada, where if you show Suicide Ideation, they throw you in a loony bin where majority of individuals find their SI worsens in there), but they legally have a commitment to find ANY other alternative to end of life.
• This means that you will likely have a minimum of a two-to-three year program of rotating treatments including SSRI's, SNRI's, TCA's, MAOI's, and even other classes that aren't necessarily even meant for depression such as antipsychotics, and of course psychotherapy. In my experience, psychiatrists and doctors will try two to four different medications in each class before moving onto other options. Given full effects take a minimum of 2 months to feel , that just turned in a best case scenario, an early 2028 death to a late 2029 death, and I think that is even being hopeful.
• If you've had attempts in the past, you likely will be ineligible for MAiD.
• There is a high likelyhood of the doctor prescribing palliative care (inpatient psych care)
• This is all assuming that MAiD Laws/Processes happen on time - the Conservative government, along with pro-life activists, are all going to try (and likely succeed) in pushing the law back.
• I would not doubt it if many doctors refuse to even entertain the conversation, considering that families will likely go after the system/doctors that recommend MAiD.

Don't get me wrong, I strongly think depression should be included in MAiD accepted illnesses, but I realistically think that going through Switzerland or any of the other regions where medical/professional assistance is easier, would be the way to go.

If I was to give advice to anyone seeking MAiD, it would be start the conversation and start getting on those medicines right away. If they work, perfect. If they don't work, you're closer to what you want.

Sorry to hear about your MDD. I'm not in the same boat as you, but I'm in the same storm. I hope you get the help you need, whether it's peace or recovery

 

[oneeyed]

Also MDD sufferer here and diagnosed not much older than yourself. I feel your pain but as @boxingbeagle stated, it's not likely to be included in maid any time soon.

As far as recovery goes, you can inquire if there's any local psychiatrists that are licensed to practice therapy with psychedelics. There's great promise with it but it's still in it's infancy so it's not very common. And depending on your history may not be a good fit for you but you can at least read up on it.

 

[Alexei_Kirillov]

MAiD is so far from becoming available for mental health issues. I've done research and advocacy for it, but here are a few of the stipulations with MAiD… and as @Alexei_Kirillov said, the future of it is in jeopardy. Besides the conversation alone getting pushed back to Mar 2027, I know for a fact believe that it will likely be a few years after that before the first Medically Assisted Death with the sole illness being mental illness.

After doing research on what would be required to access MAiD if I were to wait until it was "legalized", here are a few points.

• The individual must be assessed by two separate doctors. One must be an expert or specialize in the illness affecting the patient.
• Doctors will NOT easily suggest MAiD. Not only are their jobs to PREVENT people from dying (especially in Canada, where if you show Suicide Ideation, they throw you in a loony bin where majority of individuals find their SI worsens in there), but they legally have a commitment to find ANY other alternative to end of life.
• This means that you will likely have a minimum of a two-to-three year program of rotating treatments including SSRI's, SNRI's, TCA's, MAOI's, and even other classes that aren't necessarily even meant for depression such as antipsychotics, and of course psychotherapy. In my experience, psychiatrists and doctors will try two to four different medications in each class before moving onto other options. Given full effects take a minimum of 2 months to feel , that just turned in a best case scenario, an early 2028 death to a late 2029 death, and I think that is even being hopeful.
• If you've had attempts in the past, you likely will be ineligible for MAiD.
• There is a high likelyhood of the doctor prescribing palliative care (inpatient psych care)
• This is all assuming that MAiD Laws/Processes happen on time - the Conservative government, along with pro-life activists, are all going to try (and likely succeed) in pushing the law back.
• I would not doubt it if many doctors refuse to even entertain the conversation, considering that families will likely go after the system/doctors that recommend MAiD.

Don't get me wrong, I strongly think depression should be included in MAiD accepted illnesses, but I realistically think that going through Switzerland or any of the other regions where medical/professional assistance is easier, would be the way to go.

If I was to give advice to anyone seeking MAiD, it would be start the conversation and start getting on those medicines right away. If they work, perfect. If they don't work, you're closer to what you want.

Sorry to hear about your MDD. I'm not in the same boat as you, but I'm in the same storm. I hope you get the help you need, whether it's peace or recovery

Great write-up. Something else I'd add is that we should expect waaaaaay more opposition to this expansion than to the previous ones, especially from parents and from people with mental illnesses who are anti-choice and gung-ho about suicide prevention; I've noticed that people who have "recovered" from suicidal ideation or even from attempts are often the most fervent in their opposition to right-to-die. You'll be hearing a lot of "If I had had the option to use MAID x years ago, I would've used it, which would've been a travesty because I'm so glad to be alive today!!" which is a nonsensical argument that completely misunderstands how nonexistence works. (@TAW122 feel like there's an article in the making here!)

 

[FuneralCry]

I also wish it's an option for me as well, I suffer so much from how I cannot just have the option to cease existing in a guaranteed way, I just want to painlessly die and never exist again.

 

[lwovely]

MAiD is so far from becoming available for mental health issues. I've done research and advocacy for it, but here are a few of the stipulations with MAiD… and as @Alexei_Kirillov said, the future of it is in jeopardy. Besides the conversation alone getting pushed back to Mar 2027, I know for a fact believe that it will likely be a few years after that before the first Medically Assisted Death with the sole illness being mental illness.

After doing research on what would be required to access MAiD if I were to wait until it was "legalized", here are a few points.

• The individual must be assessed by two separate doctors. One must be an expert or specialize in the illness affecting the patient.
• Doctors will NOT easily suggest MAiD. Not only are their jobs to PREVENT people from dying (especially in Canada, where if you show Suicide Ideation, they throw you in a loony bin where majority of individuals find their SI worsens in there), but they legally have a commitment to find ANY other alternative to end of life.
• This means that you will likely have a minimum of a two-to-three year program of rotating treatments including SSRI's, SNRI's, TCA's, MAOI's, and even other classes that aren't necessarily even meant for depression such as antipsychotics, and of course psychotherapy. In my experience, psychiatrists and doctors will try two to four different medications in each class before moving onto other options. Given full effects take a minimum of 2 months to feel , that just turned in a best case scenario, an early 2028 death to a late 2029 death, and I think that is even being hopeful.
• If you've had attempts in the past, you likely will be ineligible for MAiD.
• There is a high likelyhood of the doctor prescribing palliative care (inpatient psych care)
• This is all assuming that MAiD Laws/Processes happen on time - the Conservative government, along with pro-life activists, are all going to try (and likely succeed) in pushing the law back.
• I would not doubt it if many doctors refuse to even entertain the conversation, considering that families will likely go after the system/doctors that recommend MAiD.

Don't get me wrong, I strongly think depression should be included in MAiD accepted illnesses, but I realistically think that going through Switzerland or any of the other regions where medical/professional assistance is easier, would be the way to go.

If I was to give advice to anyone seeking MAiD, it would be start the conversation and start getting on those medicines right away. If they work, perfect. If they don't work, you're closer to what you want.

Sorry to hear about your MDD. I'm not in the same boat as you, but I'm in the same storm. I hope you get the help you need, whether it's peace or recovery

I might just try to keep going, I am just super stressed and overwhelmed with everything. I don't have the funds to afford MAID in Switzerland but thank you so much for this info. I don't really believe it's going to be coming in 2027 because our government is most likely going to lead more conservatively. So most likely MAID isn't something approved anyway whether it's mental health related or not.

Don't hold your breath, the next government will be a Conservative majority in all likelihood, and we all know they aren't the biggest fans of MAID even in its current form.

I know it's super terrible, can't even afford housing and groceries anymore. Idk how the next PM is going to make it any better

 

[painfree]

What I don't get is what if the disability has rendered you with MDD, MDD shouldn't be the factor in the answer. Just the disability. My form is witnessed and ready to send, my doc appeared disappointed but totally understood but maybe she knows something about my chance.
Well they can't say I didn't try the right way.